Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms McPhillips for her opening statement, which was informative. She said beef exports are valued at €2.4 billion. Is that the value at the farm gate? Is it correct that it is the return to the farmer or is that the value from the processors' point of view?

I acknowledge there is a continuous effort to create more markets and to push further afield and ensure more markets for Irish produce wherever the Department can, and to get the right space in the right market as well for our unique product. However, one gripe I have had for some time concerns the return to the farmer. In a sense, taxpayers' money is used through Bord Bia and other agencies to find markets and to research and develop them in various countries, yet the primary producer is the one who always seems to be squeezed. In the context of Food Wise 2025 or its replacement, is there a possibility of putting in some ratio whereby as the price increases for the product, the primary producer will have an entitlement to an element of that price? The difficulty we have is that farmers get continually squeezed while processors and supermarkets seem to be making money at their expense. We need to find some way to manage that in a fair and more appropriate manner.

Various supports are in place that go back to the farmer such as for suckler cows and the ANC payment. From what we hear about the next CAP agreement there will be more of a focus on environmental measures and public good that is being done by the farmer rather than what farmers produce and how they produce it. I would like more information if it is available on what benefit there will be to farmers in future. Many suckler farmers I have spoken to say they are keeping as few animals as they can to get the maximum number of benefits and they do not see any payback for increasing stocking levels or even keeping them at the previous level. Pressure is coming from all directions to scale back. In her opening remarks, Ms McPhillips referred to increasing the value rather than increasing the volume. While that may be the case, there is a fear that the value is for somebody else rather than for the farmer. Some element of clear advantage is needed for farmers to save the suckler cow and beef sector.