Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegation for coming here today and for coming back before this committee. Listening to the presentation and the comments of my colleagues, I am reminded that the core issue here in terms of agriculture is that until we have an honest conversation about the cost of food and a fair price for those who produce it, we are just giving way to the supermarkets. So much of what comes in terms of single farm payments and European payments and matched by Government funding is subsidy to supermarkets. Farmers across every single sector of food are not getting anywhere near the price that they should get for their produce in terms of the input that goes in. There is a conversation for consumers. People talk about organic food and how it is healthier and better for the environment, but will they pay a reasonable price for it?

We must have serious conversations and there is much hypocrisy that we must address, particularly in terms of Government policy.

Another issue drives me mad in this place. This is an excellent report, with hard work done by the previous committee. There were hearings but we are a year down the road and the witnesses are reporting today that very little has been implemented. The group is trying to make a living in this area and this is supposed to be the way to go as it is better for the environment and for our health. It is just all talk, really, without the back-up of policy and resources to make it happen. That is why I applaud the Chairman for bringing the group before us today and ensuring we revisit the recommendations. I understand we will have departmental officials here next week but I do not know if we will get the opportunity to raise the matter. Perhaps it is a separate issue, I do not know.