Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

The reference in the recent EU sugar reform proposals to the design of an assistance package for less developed countries is an acknowledgement of this fact. Trócaire has called for the maintenance of quotas for less developed African countries. It recognises that there must be room for domestic production of sugar in Europe. The change to subsidies can have a direct negative impact on many of these developing countries. We could see the major sugar barons in the likes of Thailand, Brazil and Australia, many of whom reside within the European Union, benefiting from it.

Food security is an important issue. The reason we have subsidies and supports in the European Union is to ensure we have food security for European consumers. A key question is how much we value the need to have a domestic food supply that provides safe, quality food. We must answer that question in regard to the debate on the CAP. Do we want factory farms, hypermarkets and dodgy imports, which is contrary to what we have at present? In those circumstances the countryside would become a desolate place as the agricultural economy is the lifeblood of many towns and villages the length and breadth of Ireland. I commend the amended motion to the House.

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