Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Before other members contribute, I might ask a further question. Mr. Maher correctly referenced the value of the bovine herd and industry to Irish agrifood and the Irish economy more broadly. That value is predominantly based on the positive image of the Irish beef product. It is the image of a farmer standing in a field beside a cow and her calf, maybe with a dog as well. It is in this context that I ask whether people have a view on the role of controlled finishing units, which are sometimes referred to as factory-controlled feedlots.

Beef slaughter figures for last year show that 20.21% of animals killed came from controlled finishing units, which clearly presents a threat. Does Mr. Smyth agree? It could distort the image on which our product is based. Will Mr. Smyth indicate if he sees a role for controlled finishing units and if that role has been expanded beyond where it needs to be for the reasons I outlined, or does he have any proposals in that regard? There is anecdotal evidence, if nothing else, that those units - and the role those feedlots are playing - are impacting on the prices his members are receiving at the factory gates in particular.