Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Meat Industry Ireland and the Beef Plan Movement. This has been the second day of our hearings on the subject and nobody will be able to say the committee has been found wanting in trying to come to a consensus about what can be done. There is no silver bullet that will bring us from where we are today to a sustainable beef industry for the future, ten years down the line. That is my opinion and perhaps I am wrong. A number of actions can be taken over the next period and we will do our best to put together a balanced report in the coming weeks. After the Easter break, we will speak to Bord Bia, as well as to Glanbia and Kepak about their initiative, which will be worthwhile. We have decided to bring together all the stakeholders, such as the farming organisations, Meat Industry Ireland, the exporters and so on, and listen to their views. In our opinion, that was the only way of reaching a consensus on the way forward, and the best way of dealing with the matter is everybody speaking together and moving together with common sense, although that may not always be possible or straightforward. We will do our best and I guarantee we will not be found wanting. While many of the members have left the room, there is much commitment among the committee. Earlier in the meeting, many members expressed passionate views on the sector, and I think everybody is on the same page in that regard. Again, I thank witnesses for remaining with us all evening.