Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Creed, and acknowledge his report. The three topics on which he spoke are probably the three key issues for the farming sector currently. I will focus on the Mercosur deal and the current situation in that regard. We are in a troubling scenario in regard to this trade negotiation and there are many questions about it. There are several points on which I will ask the Minister for clarification. The trade negotiations began more than a decade ago, possibly as far back as 1999. When is the next proposed date for the meeting? The Minister in his report stated the last meeting was in early March. Are we proposing that there will soon be another meeting and, if so, although it is not technically the responsibility of the Minister's Department, what are we expecting from that deal and when will we be playing it out?

The possibility of high-quality cuts and fresh meat coming to the market is a genuine concern for farmers. If that were to be the case, would it be part of the deal? Will there be a quota or a tonnage limit in that regard? How is it proposed to deal with frozen and fresh produce? I ask the Minister to comment on the dairy offer, which is in his report. There has been much discussion of the beef offer possibly going from 70,000 tonnes to 90,000 tonnes. I seek clarity on the dairy offer. What is the proposal in that regard? I ask the Minister to elaborate on the possible effect on the industry.

The Minister's negotiation skills will be tested on all three items dealt with in his report, namely, CAP, Brexit and the Mercosur trade deal. These are very troubled times and those three issues will have a knock-on effect on farm income, which has already been affected by an exceptionally long winter, possible fodder issues and a fall in the prices received for produce. We must seek clarity on this issue.

As regards Brexit and the CAP, the Minister has very much been on top of his brief in that regard. Those two issues have been very well handled and farmers have been very well informed of the current situation. The six meetings with farmers around the country went down particularly well with the farming community. That level of interaction and having a Minister and a Minister of State attending three meetings each must be acknowledged and there is general acceptance in the farming community that that has been very positive. However, clarity is required on the Mercosur deal because there is a fear that if the beef tonnage is too high it could have an awful knock-on effect. The dairy issue must be clarified. However, of more importance is that as these negotiations started in 1999, realistically, how long will it take for them to be concluded? I take into consideration that we closed a deal with Canada last year. Perhaps this is part of the European Union closing out such deals but I seek clarity and further information in that regard.