Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this debate. In light of the recent CAP reforms in Europe, the climate for the future of agriculture and the food industry in Ireland is radically altered. When Ireland entered the EU in 1973, agriculture was our single most important industry and employer. It represented approximately 50% of our net exports. The Minister said in her speech that it now represents approximately 7% of exports and approximately one fifth of net foreign earnings from traded goods. On a relative scale, this is a significant drop, which highlights the radical change in commodity production and agriculture in this country and, consequently, the need for us to take account of that and deal with it in a way that farming will sustain the rural environment and ensure quality food for consumers.

Agriculture is still an important part of our economy by comparison with other EU member countries. However, it is now clear that as a result of the CAP reforms, the emphasis has shifted to quality food production, safety of our food, environmental protection and animal welfare. In summary, the emphasis has moved away from production and quantity towards quality and the needs of consumers. It is now consumer-driven rather than production-driven.

Irish agriculture was almost entirely dependent on subsidies. It should be noted that despite the heavy subsidies for many years, these have failed to retain the numbers in agriculture or the decline in farm incomes. Farming and rural Ireland will be changed significantly in the next ten to 15 years. This is the prediction from all the economists who have examined the future of agriculture here. The climate for change is already being experienced. Enlargement of the EU and changes to the CAP have already occurred and the consequent effects on agriculture must be heeded. Heeding these changes means taking account of economic, social and environmental sustainability. It also means that consumers will be much more aware, better informed and more demanding.

Predictions for Irish agriculture for the coming decade include the rationalisation of the agriculture and food industries. The numbers of full-time farmers will decline and the likelihood is that farm size will increase. Quality food, value for money, safe food and animal welfare will dominate the landscape. However, I believe the gap that has not been bridged by the Government is ensuring that the farming community is facilitated to refocus their priorities and to deliver based on the changes we will encounter.

The various supports and technologies required to make Ireland a viable place in which to live must be provided and accessible. I do not believe this has happened in the way it should. It is disingenuous to separate rural development from agriculture and the environment while food policy and safety remain largely within the remit of the Department of Agriculture and Food. Rural development and rural Ireland are inescapable in terms of their relationship with agriculture.

There is a major challenge ahead for food policy. We are experiencing a culture where the food industry spends millions of euro on advertisements that extol the virtues of sweet and fatty foods, for example, when it is well known that excess consumption of such foods lead to coronary heart disease, cancers, obesity, diabetes and various other medical conditions. On the other hand, the money spent on health education and healthy eating is minimal by comparison. The obesity debate is now one of the hottest topics. It is dominating the tabloids and it is reported on in every newspaper. It is good that the debate is opened up. However, this is a big issue because we must take account of the money being spent, on the one hand, on the promotion of foods that contribute to obesity and, on the other, the relative amount of money being spent on health education and healthy eating.

The food economy has been totally restructured. The arrival of giant food stores serves wealthy shoppers very well. Deputy Glennon referred to the taking over of retail food by a very small number of the multiples. As our food is packaged at the supermarket checkout, the computer informs the manager what foods need to be reordered. This is technology at its best, but it is at its best for the retailer. The large supermarkets are now the powerbrokers of the food economy.

The choice of foods is what is desired and promoted by the advertisements. New products appear regularly and are marketed aggressively. Sun-dried tomatoes are the new status symbol. It is desirable to have the choice but the cost of that choice must be identified and challenged. This is what the Government should be addressing, ensuring that quality and healthy food, clearly labelled and unambiguous, is available to everyone.

The challenge is not just about what we eat, it is also about controlling the way food is produced. The Government must be proactive in ensuring that the way in which food is produced is environmentally acceptable and safe. The lessons of BSE should not be forgotten. In recent days we had a sharp reminder when TSE, the equivalent of BSE, was diagnosed and confirmed in a goat in France. The crossing of the species barrier has enormous implications. I hope it is a one-off event and that it will not evolve into significance in terms of its occurrence in the goat population. It is a reminder of the efficiency of biological agents in surviving in what are apparently quite hostile and unsuitable environments.

I want to refer in particular to the debate about GM foods. I would like clarification from the Minister on the stance of the Government in this regard. It appears there is a two-way bet on GM foods because the Government is neither for nor against them.

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