Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Mr. Healy for his very clear presentation and for outlining his key points and suggestions as to how the decline in the area under tillage can be addressed. The issue is of concern. This year, the area under tillage has reduced by 5% compared to last year. That is a significant reduction in one year alone. As Mr. Healy outlined in his presentation, tillage is down 20% over the past ten years. With current conditions and prices, it will be very difficult to prevent a further reduction in the area under tillage.

Mr. Healy mentioned that native Irish grain is continuing to trade at a discount compared to imported grain. That is a concern. Could he elaborate on the dynamics behind that and how he feels that could be addressed? Could Mr. Healy outline how the price of native grain could be improved? I am interested to hear Mr. Healy's perspective in terms of having to compete with GM-produced grain and other crops and how that is impacting in relation to the profitability of the native crops. One of Mr. Healy's suggestions relates to the establishment of a certification scheme to maximise the use of native grain and protein in Irish livestock rations. I am interested in hearing more about how he would see that being developed and how it would work.

Mr. Healy touched as well on the bio-economy and the bio-energy sector using crop residues. I am interested in hearing his further perspective on the potential for bio-energy and increasing the area under crops in order to develop that sector. I would like to hear his thoughts on what would be required to do that. I am also interested in hearing Mr. Healy's perspective on the potential for sugar beet in the bio-energy sector.