Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I share the concern of my colleagues about the fact that the price is below the European average so the witnesses might elaborate on that again. One of the things that made pig farmers fit to cope and deal with volatility was economies of scale. If we reduce the herd by 10% would they lose those economies of scale? On the capacity question, my understanding from some primary producers is that they were finding it hard to get their pigs processed for a good part of this year. Did MII have problems in capacity with its staffing or whatever at different points? If not, why am I hearing that? I am interested in the point about the markets. When does MII see an expansion of the markets happening and where? Could MII put a timeframe on that? It would seem to me to make no sense that we would not support the sector if MII and the IFA are fit to tell us that there are pending improvements and new markets. Surely it is important to tide the sector over to reach that point. It is important that it go out into the news that this potential is there.