Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

We are all getting tetchy today. A feed of Irish beef will do us all the world of good. We must not have had lunch today.

On the basis of the concerns expressed by my parliamentary party, Members of the House and members of farming organisations, I raised this issue with the Commissioner. As I stated, the FVO is investigating it and will report shortly to the Commissioner, who has given his indications to me in writing.

I did not state that traceability, food safety and food security are not important. If we are to have a balanced outcome in the WTO negotiations, it must be reflected in equal access to the markets. This is why I am concerned about the current unbalanced proposal.

We must deal with a matter about which many people do not want to hear. I recently met my Italian colleague, who is interested in the support of Irish beef in the retail sector, and we are doing well at that level. He told me he wishes to import a considerable amount of Brazilian beef for the catering and manufacturing sectors on the basis of price. That is a major difficulty for us.

On the basis of regionalisation it is a policy we used and it would be erroneous for me to suggest we should not pursue that.

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