Mr. Mike Neary:

I will make some initial comments. We have seven tomato growers left in the country. We call them high-wire growers. They are great growers and very invested in the business. They have major operations, and there is a high cost from an energy perspective. We produce about 4,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually and import about 25,000. That is the size of the market. Over the years, we have fewer growers, but the ones who are growing are excellent. When the Senator says Irish tomatoes cannot be seen in some supermarkets, it is because they are not there. That is the reality. The growers are in some parts of the market and do a super job but the confidence needed to get more growers to invest would be significant. There would be a huge capital investment.

On education, Professor Hennessy said that horticulture is somewhat in the shadow of other sectors. While it is great to be here today having this discussion to give horticulture a focus, it has probably received less investment and focus than other sectors. We are very passionate about the industry, have worked in it for many years and believe in it. There are great growers who can do a great job. We must not forget that the industry is still worth €500 million per year. After the beef, dairy and pigmeat sectors, it has the highest agricultural output value. It is more than in the sheep and tillage sectors, which are great sectors, so it has an important place. It warrants its day in the sunshine, given the focus on plant-based foods and more healthy diets. Regardless of whether we invest in education, research, more data collection or promotion, we cannot put enough into it. That is probably why we are all focused on it.

I am not an expert on the educational side but, as somebody who did a horticulture degree many years ago, I believe that part of the review will cover what is already done through education and how it can be improved and built upon to deliver for future talent for future people. I do not think you can ever have enough of it. Even in the dairy sector, more research and education are needed. It is exactly the same for horticulture. I agree with the Senator's comments in this regard. We have a great industry with some great people in it but we are at a crossroads where, if we start to see it contract further, we could lose elements of it. We still have an opportunity to turn it around. In this regard, I refer members to the roadmap set out in the new strategy launched in June. If the eight key strategies are progressed as they are set out, it will make a major contribution. That will be important for all of us.