Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If Deputy Whitmore had been following my approach and my engagement across the agriculture sector closely, she would see that at all times I am honest about the challenges we have and what we have to do. I have been honest in the answer I have given her today as well as to where this particular proposal stands. I have been honest as well and provided solid leadership and clarity throughout the derogation piece.

The Deputy is right that is important. I am also being honest about the fact that as we look forward, food production is going to be important and we are blessed in our capacity to produce food. We can produce way more than we need domestically. I came back three or four weeks ago from a trade mission to South Korea. It is a country the same size as ours in landmass terms, but 70% of the country is mountain or forest and not in agricultural use, so only 30% of the country is used for agriculture. On a landmass the same size as ours, South Korea has a population of 51 million, so it can in no way produce enough food domestically for its population. It is therefore depending on other countries to produce the food the 51 million people need-----