Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 2 March 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Challenges in the Pig, Poultry and Horticulture Sectors: Irish Farmers Association

Mr. Tim Cullinan:

There is massive concern, not just in Ireland but across Europe, on the natural gas supply in particular. Almost 50% of the natural gas that is consumed in Europe comes from Russia. We are concerned about that and about the impact of the increase in the price of energy. Pig, poultry and horticulture farmers are all massive users of energy so that will have a direct impact and lead to further losses for those sectors. In the pig sector specifically, the Deputy is referencing the €7 million direct aid package that the Minister has announced. That is a first step but it will take more for any sector that has the potential to lose somewhere in the region of €130 million, to quote Teagasc figures again, in a 12-month period. This is a substantial amount of money. The Deputy will be aware that many people in Tipperary are employed directly in the pig sector. This is because there is a large processing plant in Roscrea. Overall, 8,000 people are involved in the sector so we need more engagement from the Government and we need a strategy and more funding to get us out of the serious situation we find ourselves in.