Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him good luck in the role. I also take the opportunity to congratulate the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Senator Lombard, on their appointment and to wish them both well in their briefs. I soldiered alongside the Chairman and the Minister, week after week, in the committee that sat during the last Oireachtas. I learned a lot from them during that time and there is a good friendship there. Now that they have been elevated, I will not be found wanting in my role of holding people to account if and when that is needed.

I have a few questions for the Minister based on his opening statement. He referred to the reduction in exports and market sales during the period of the Covid crisis. This included a large reduction in live exports, particularly of calves, due to the closing down of veal markets on the Continent. What impact has that had on national herd numbers and what plans does the Minister envisage putting in place to deal with the increased beef kill that will be necessary because calf numbers are up from last year as a result of the export restrictions? Those calves will have to go to market at some stage of their lives and I am wondering whether there will be a major impact on the numbers going to market further down the line.

Based on where we are at the moment with the Covid restrictions and taking into account last night's announcement and any possible future announcements or changes in status, I stress to the Minister the importance of keeping the marts operational at all times and particularly at this time of year.

We are in October now and in the heart of the period when weanlings are sold. There are weanling sales all over the country and that is a vital part of the chain of production in the beef sector. I stress the point, regardless of whatever changes are made in future, that it is vitally important that the marts are kept operational because of the time of the year we have reached.

I would also like to hear a comment from the Minister regarding departmental inspections in the context of Covid-19 and how associated restrictions have affected farm and Bord Bia inspections. If there has been an impact, and if there is a backlog resulting from constraints imposed because of the pandemic, is that holding back payments to farmers who, through no fault of their own, have not had their inspections or their appeals heard? What can be done if there are problems in that area? I ask that question because it is vitally important regarding farmers' cash flow this year, given everything else that is happening. I refer to ensuring that any moneys owed to farmers reach them and are not held back because Covid-19 restrictions prevent inspections. That would not be the fault of the farmers.

Turning to the subject of Brexit, and the Minister will be well aware of this aspect because it is of great interest to me and I am personally involved, there was no mention in the Brexit report of horse racing or the export of racehorses and foals, and the existing tripartite arrangement between Ireland, the UK and France. Does the Minister have any indication from the negotiations concerning where that arrangement will stand post Brexit, regardless of whether there is a deal? It is vitally important for the industry, which is worth many billions of euro to the island, that the existing tripartite arrangement for the free of movement horses, foals, stallions and mares is maintained post Brexit. The ability to use the land bridge through the UK to access France is crucial.

I have some comments regarding various aspects of the CAP. I welcome the Minister's report and I note from it the sensitive position that the negotiations seem to have reached. The Minister himself has referred to the principle of nothing being agreed until everything is agreed. Everything does now seem to be coming to a head, which I welcome because this is all long overdue. In the meantime, however, what flexibility or subsidiarity arrangements are available to us during the transition period? I am assuming that the money being made available from the European Union for recovery from the impact of Covid-19 will come into play during the transition period. The Chairman is knocking on his glass, so I will leave it at that for the first round. I thank the Minister.