Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Commissioner. I too am a farmer. I farm sheep and suckler cows. In 1973, when we joined the EEC, now the EU, the population of our national herd was the same as it is today. We talk about environmental impacts and so on, but our national herd has not grown. It has actually diminished over the past number of years. When we talk about a green product and a green way of life, we have instilled something into our farming community, of which I am a part, such that we have pride in our food and what we produce, whether chicken, beef, lamb or pork. There are regulations. We had the National Ploughing Championships, which, unfortunately, the Commissioner is just after missing. It was held last weekend. Over 200,000 farmers attended, taking pride in what we have achieved over the year.

Over the past number of years, farmers have become accountants and environmentalists and have adhered to all the regulations and rules that have come in from Europe. We are now looking at the scientific facts and DNA - that is where our beef sector has gone - to see whether we can produce a lighter carcase that can go onto a shelf and be killed at an lower age. We have looked at the scientific facts and emissions from cattle. We have DNA data. We have followed the whole scientific procedure with our cattle. I know for a fact this has not happened across Europe. We are the only country that has followed these scientific facts. We have figures from our factories on one thing or another. I fear we will import a product that does not have traceability, with hormones that were used here in the past, and we will have to compete with that in a global market. Our farmers, of not only beef but also of pork, children and lamb, feel this is a step too far for our economy, farming and communities. No farmer is against trade. We are the biggest exporters. We exported from the dairy, beverages and beef sectors to the tune of €19.1 billion last year.

The fear concerns how we compete in a market that is not a level playing field. That is the fear factor. If we can get a regulator from the EU on which Ireland has at least one auditor who can go to these inspections, it would help.