James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

The motion addresses a major issue, namely, the survival of the Irish agrifood industry. I am delighted to speak on this motion having raised the future of the pig industry on the Adjournment debate last week. The range of matters included in this motion is an indictment of the actions of the Minister, which have consistently failed Irish farmers since she first attempted to gain some insight into agricultural matters with, it now appears, little success. The bottom line is that Irish farmers expect the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to protect their interest and in tandem those of the consumer. However, how can we consider that she is in any way protecting our farmers or consumers? The evidence is of a sector that is foundering due to inadequate back-up from the person assigned to look after the interest of the industry which accounts for 10% of employment, 8.5% of GDP and 25% of net foreign earnings.

Pig farmers are held to ransom by the rising cost of animal feed and an extraordinarily muddled approach by the Minister to the acceleration of EU approval for feed crops with GM components. On 27 September the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, abstained in a crucial vote at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels, yet she was actively in favour of the EU proposals last June and had the full support of the IFA. However, some disjointed thinking forced her into a change of heart that was never fully explained. This U-turn has damaged Ireland's credibility in Brussels and assurances given by her last June now count for nothing. Irish farmers are once again facing heavy financial losses in this sector and rely heavily on the import of grain.

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