Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Penrose and will call him again.. I am aware of an issue that will be raised in respect of the report. We invited Ornua - the new name under which the Irish Dairy Board operates - Teagasc, Bord Bia and the banks to make presentations. We were under time constraints because we wished to publish our report before 1 April. The other factor was the super levy and the opening up of the markets which had been well flagged in advance by all the farm organisations. A decision was taken to use that information as a platform to bring in the other witnesses. We felt at the time, and I take full responsibility for it, there was no need to invite the farm organisations because we felt we had the information that we needed and were under time constraints. I hope the IFA will take that point on board. We have never ever shirked from bringing in farming organisations. Lest that be an issue for any of the witnesses present, I want to clarify the point before I invite them to speak.