Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

We need to do that. If we do not, we will be taken over by corporations like Walmart, ASDA and Tesco. One need only drive up the M1 on a Monday morning to see all the Tesco lorries heading North, which cannot cope with the demand for products. People in their purchases are following the cheaper priced products, but we have an opportunity to assist farmers to set up alternative enterprises. There is a need to start sourcing foods locally and to start incentivising farming for the future because the psychology prevailing currently is that young farmers will not enter farming.

I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Creed, on tabling this motion. He emphasised the psychology prevailing in farming among young people. At present there is no motivation to encourage them to take up farming.

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