Mr. Liam Dunne:

Something we have not discussed, but which the Chairman mentioned is organic production. It has become quite fashionable throughout Europe and other parts of the world for people to want to buy organic produce. There is a difficulty with organic production. In a country such as this, which is naturally a grass growing country, anything coming from beef animals and dairy produce can be done organically without any great difficulty, but when it comes to the tillage sector several serious issues arise. We have many grass weeds and other weeds in a wet climate, and we also have many wet diseases, which cause a huge number of problems. We must also have a major supply of organic fertiliser, which we do not have, for organic cereals.

It is a small sector here. It can be done but the amount being produced and the risks involved are very high and it is very difficult. Organic cereals are probably better produced in a drier climate than ours. I know some farmers who are quite successful at doing it, but the quantity they produce will always be very small.