Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Professor Boyle's presentation was very useful and is a good harbinger. Other people appearing before this committee should do the same. Will he give an outline of how the food innovation hub at Moorepark is going? There is a public-private aspect to that, covering research and development.

On the issue of farm safety, there are 24 or 25 deaths on farms annually now. It is far too high a number, notwithstanding the significant focus on it in recent years. I believe Mr. John McNamara was involved in this area with Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. Will Professor Boyle outline what Teagasc is doing in terms of trying to put a code of practice in place to prevent injuries?

I note that there is an issue around procurement. I salute Teagasc as it is not a homogenous organisation. It carries out many diverse activities, so it is very difficult to stick to the various procurement procedures that are laid down. Exceptions are a very minuscule aspect of the entirety of its work, and Teagasc often has to act with great alacrity to ensure that it can continue with its various programmes.

I have raised the issue of Greenfield farm over many years, and Professor Boyle probably expects me to raise it tonight. I know that Dr. Tom Moran, former Secretary General, produced an independent report about it. It is a bit of a blight on the overall activities of Teagasc and its partners. I knew there was a higher mortality rate of cows and calves than what was initially reported. There was bound to be. I read the report, and as a demonstration farm it provided a fairly poor example. The situation that arose called into question the operability and advisability of housing cows and calves in outdoor facilities. These climatic events are going to be quite regular, and there is no excuse for this ever to happen again. I hope that we never have to revisit this issue. I was very annoyed, and indeed a number of people, including members of the farming public, contacted me over this issue as recently as one month ago. Even some farmers from Wicklow were very annoyed about it. It was clearly a vulnerable system. It is all right in New Zealand and other places, but not here.

I am critical because there was a lack of safety statements, anticipatory plans, risk assessment and hazard analysis. It appears that nothing was done. It has been pointed out that this has to be done. The independent review does point to fairer management at times. There is even a reference to adequate food reserves. We cannot bury the facts. They are there. It is not just the mortality of animals, the cows and calves. Those things happen. We are not fools. That happens in ordinary farming. However, when one exposes animals to the elements, there is distress and other issues that arise from the exposure. Everywhere else farmers were running all over the place trying to bring animals in. They were putting animals in sheds that might not have been the best, but people were trying to make do so as to put shelter in place. I accept there were unusual climatic events, but we have to cut out the nonsense of saying that it is a rarity because it looks like it will be commonplace now. I will be keeping an eye on the situation. If we have to come back to deal with this next March or April, someone will have to be brought to book.

I asked Professor Boyle about it because I know he has an interest in the area. Anyone who has ever been involved in agriculture realises the distress that can arise with animals, including hypothermia, in such situations. Will he outline what plans will be put in place to avoid a recurrence of the serious situation that arose in Greenfield farm last spring? I know the weather was extreme. I am not a fool, but I hope that never happens again. It is inevitable that there will be animal losses. Losses are part of farming or any activity. However, the farm is a demonstration farm and it must be held to the highest standards. I hope the augmented facilities take cognisance of the adverse climatic trends and events that are now prevalent in this country.