Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Lombard on his appointment. I also congratulate the Minister and welcome him and his departmental officials, Mr. Savage and Ms McPhillips. I have some quick questions. Starting with Brexit, is there a tie-in between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Transport? I refer to meat exports, haulage, sheep and cattle and the live export sector. In that context, is there liaison with ports? What are we looking at regarding tariffs? I know that animals on the hoof will be cheaper. Is there concern that companies, such as ASDA, have announced that they are going to buy all British beef?

What tariff will be placed on sheep coming into the Republic from Northern Ireland? Are the witnesses concerned about the debate regarding animal health remedies, and, if so, when will they address it? The reality concerning the veterinary sector in the context of Brexit is that there is a danger that things will be smuggled across the Border, so we need to allow the veterinary shops to continue, even if there is only a derogation for ten years or something similar. Can the witnesses confirm why the Department did not support the project in Banagher, when we need as many such plants as possible? I refer to plants killing cattle, which will be of benefit to animals destined for China and other countries.

I also know that there are three or four protected geographical indication, PGI, status applications in now, but there seems to be a delay. One application concerns suckler natural Irish beef. Is there a lack of staff employed in the section looking after these applications?

Turning to the CAP, and Pillar 2, I supported the Minister when he was in opposition and when he spoke about suckler welfare and wanting to bring in a suckler scheme. Will such a scheme be coming in this budget? What measures will there be for sheep and tillage farming? Will there be an emphasis on young farmers? Like others, I would also like to hear the Minister's views regarding Mercosur and TAMS.

We will support every effort to get young farmers up and running and I would like to hear the Minister's thoughts in that regard. Basic entitlements are provided to them, but I see the presence of a loophole after year two. A person doing this must be a genuine farmer. In year two, however, a loophole means that it is possible to lease out the land associated with those entitlements and then the holders are not farming. We have to be blunt about this aspect and it must be addressed. It should not be possible to just get a lump of money one year, then lease out the land and not have to be farming after that. We need to nip that activity in the bud.

What is the Minister's view regarding convergence? Regarding the environmental schemes, the Minister has stated that the EU will reach a decision in this regard. Many farmers, however, have leased land, they are coming close to the end of those agreements and they do not know what to do. Moving on to Covid-19, we spray biocide substances on ourselves when we come in here and use more of them when we wash our hands. It is the Minister's Department that provides the associated pesticides control service, PCS, number. Why is there a six-month delay for companies trying to get that number? I noted that the Minister did not speak about forestry, but that topic was much commented upon last week. Is the Minister concerned that much of our timber is going to England? In the context of Brexit, when will that proposal be signed? In the first few weeks, if there is no signing, is the Government prepared to go further and drive this aspect on?

On donedeal.ieand similar outlets, I have noticed this famous letter that went out to farmers and now they are advertising cattle that are "Top of the Pops" and as never having had a reactor. This is starting to show now when people are selling cattle. Will something be done to stop this practice? If not, we are going to end up with two different societies, including those trying to sell cattle on donedeal.ieor similar outlets.