Mr. Pat McCormack:

Food Harvest 2020 set a goal of 50%. Many people thought that it could not be achieved but it has been and ahead of schedule. That it was achieved ahead of schedule is probably because suckler farmers with a significant block of land have transferred over. They had much of the infrastructure in place and only required a milking parlour. If one goes to the south east, and talks to Glanbia and similar firms, they still have suckler farmers who are transferring across because that is what economics dictates.

The Chairman did not ask about milk and the dairy issue, but the issue is the impact that the expansion of the dairy herd had on beef. A closer analysis of the last three years or so would show that the reduction in the weight of slaughtered animals has between 12 kg and 15 kg a carcass. That would offset the increase in numbers. EU production is down almost 2%, at 1.75 million head. Ireland's increase in beef production should not dictate the sluggishness in the marketplace. That is purely based on the fear of Brexit and some being in the position to exploit that fear when dealing with primary producers.

There was another part to the Chairman's question about the farm organisations working together. As I said in my opening statement, it involves all of us around the table. The farm organisations are lobby groups but the politicians are the people who can implement things. We all need to work together. The politicians need to listen to the farm organisations and to implement something for the good of rural Ireland, which is to stimulate the agricultural economy there. If I drive 30 km away from here, I am in a different land. The Chairman knows that too, because he has driven the same road.