Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From MII, I welcome Mr. Philip Carroll, chairman, Mr. Cormac Healy, senior director, and Mr. Joe Ryan, director.

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We have had an outline from the IFA about the seriousness of the situation. We have been lobbied very strongly by the pig sector for a number of weeks. It is under serious financial hardship. We have media speculation and statements about the package announced today and agreed at Cabinet.

The witnesses represent the industry. What I want from them is their perspective on where they see the market going into the future. Do you see prices recovering? What caused the price to collapse in the first place? How long do they think the price recovery will take? Is a correction in supply required to bring about that price recovery? The witnesses have serious insight into those matters. Is there a need to secure markets as a result of Brexit? There was reference to how much market share we have lost in the UK as a result of Brexit. Where can we regain that ground and where are the best markets to try to regain that ground and try to get on a level footing? That is the type of background we would like to get from Mr. Carroll, Mr. Healy and Mr. Ryan, if that is possible.