Mr. T.J. Maher:

As an organisation, the IFA is very much in favour of a targeted approach towards the reduction of use of antiparasitics in our farms. It is in our long-term interests as farmers and as in the interests of society as a whole. Certainly, we have played a leading role in that. It is critical in all this debate that this is to the forefront.

There is no doubt that there are some key issues, and they have been touched on by Mr. Enright and Mr. McCormack. The reality is that this proposal will have a severe impact on competition within the system. Effectively, we are going to be at the behest of one supplier. Regardless of the goodwill or otherwise of those suppliers, inevitably they have a monopoly and farmers will ultimately be the ones to lose out. We will also lose huge economic activity in the broader range of the sector in Ireland. There has been a growing tendency for corporates to take over veterinary practices around this country. In many cases, the prices are built on the goodwill of farmers. In effect, we now have a situation where outside bodies are looking at changing regulations and inflating valuations to be seen to benefit groups that are outside the agri-sector, for all we know. This is a huge concern in terms of the competition for these products for farmers in the future.

The two-tier supply system on the island of Ireland is an absolutely critical issue and cannot be overlooked. As somebody who has been the victim of fake and incorrect labelling on imported products, I believe this is an area of huge concern. It undermines the national effort not only to have a targeted and one-island approach to food production in Ireland and to medicine usage reduction across our State, but also to ensure we can stand over the quality of all our products. It is our clear view that prescription by qualified persons can be facilitated in the existing regulations. This would align both jurisdictions, in effect, and allow us to move forward with the one-island approach. That is absolutely crucial.

Outside of those issues, there are other issues within the Bill that are particularly significant for us. In terms of the national database in particular, farmers have real concerns that individual farmer data will be accessed and stored in a format that is currently not available. At this point in time, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine cannot use the data to flag herds for inspection but will they be able to hold this position in the future? We will be in a situation where farmers are being held accountable for the faults and failings of those who are prescribing. The reality in Ireland today is that farmers cannot access antibiotics unless they are prescribed to them by a third party who is suitably qualified and recognised by the Department. In this situation we have to ensure individual farmers' data are not going to be used against them.

In addition, we will have the development of a huge database under the national veterinary prescription system that could be sought for use by outside bodies for the surveillance of agriculture and our farms. The control and management of this database is a whole new area about which we are extremely concerned. In particular, when we look at the monopolies that exist outside our farm gates for the purchase of our products, it is very concerning for us.

Another issue with the Bill that is particularly pertinent is the whole enforcement issue. It is not appropriate that the legislation would provide a right of entry onto farmlands or farmers' premises without notification or warrant. It is certainly not something we envisage should be allowed as we move forward. The reality is that farms are also family homes. This approach cannot be accepted and must be deleted from the Bill for best use.

The other issue that is particularly important is that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility to ensure compliance of prescribers and suppliers. It must ensure this Bill does not turn things on their head and lead to a situation whereby farmers are the ones taking the blame and responsibility for future inaccurate behaviour by the prescribers. We are very concerned about that for the future.

I will hand over to my colleague, Dr. Potterton, to discuss the fertiliser issue.