Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the IFA for coming before the committee today. This is very much an evolving situation. I am sure we will have further discussions on the packages we are hearing about in the media that will be put on the table. No one can deny that the sector is in dire crisis. The level of loss is unprecedented in any sector in my time. There is a perfect storm with a price that fell due to oversupply followed by the costs of input spiralling out of control. The sector is in severe difficulty. It is a very important sector for the economy. As everyone has said, it is the third most important agrifood sector. We will examine in detail the package that was put forward by the Minister that went to Cabinet this morning. We have media reports but we do not know exactly what is in it or what has been proposed. This is something we will return to in the very near future. I again thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and giving us their views on what needs to be done to save the sector.