Ms Sinéad McPhillips:

I will respond to the strand of the Deputy's question on improving the bargaining power of the primary producer in the food supply chain. One aspect of that is beef producer organisations. We are not by any means suggesting that that is the answer to all of the issues relating to the beef sector, but it is one mechanism for which the Department has legislated and provided financial assistance to enhance the position of the primary producer. Our view would be that producer organisations present a significant opportunity to strengthen the position of the beef farmer in the supply chain. There are currently three Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recognised beef producer organisations that received recognition from the Department in September 2019, October 2019 and May of this year, respectively. The Department is engaged extensively, through the task force and separately, with stakeholders in promoting the establishment of beef producer organisations which are exempt from competition law requirements and allow for producer organisations to bargain on behalf of their members. We would strongly support that.

On the next CAP, we would propose that the existing supports be maintained and, perhaps, enhanced to further encourage the establishment of the producer organisations and that consideration be given to extension of that support to the sheep sector.