Dáil debates

Tuesday, 15 June 2010

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion

 

6:00 am

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to this debate and to affirm my full confidence in the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen. I have worked closely with him in my various capacities as a Deputy, as a Minister of State and, more recently, as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. He has been a supportive colleague at all times, particularly since he became Taoiseach. He has shown excellent leadership in that role. The Government and the Taoiseach fully understand the importance of the Irish agri-food sector and appreciate the potential of the sector in terms of economic recovery, job retention and, importantly, job creation throughout the country. It is important that there is a regional spread in job creation that benefits all provinces.

This country is extremely fortunate to have tremendous farm resources at its disposal. Our challenge is to ensure we maximise the use of those resources and fully harness and secure the potential of the farming sector. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's 2020 strategy, on which an enormous amount of work has been done, will be central to that. The strategy will chart the course for the sector over the next decade. My Government colleagues and I look forward eagerly to considering the outcome of that process. We are acutely conscious of the potential of the sector. The Taoiseach said recently that he hopes the strategy will include ambitious targets for growth in these sectors and will secure sustainable employment over the next decade.

The agri-food sector will make a significant contribution to export-led growth. Despite the unprecedented pressures on the public finances, the Taoiseach has supported the maintenance of vital investment in agricultural schemes. We all acknowledge the importance of these schemes in terms of both on-farm investment and contribution to farm incomes, particularly in providing some stability to farm households.

The Government's consciousness of the potential of agriculture and the agri-food sector, not only in an Irish context but also in Europe, was demonstrated earlier this year when the Taoiseach played a leading role in ensuring that the EU Heads of Government recognised that a sustainable, productive and competitive agricultural sector would make an important contribution to the new Europe 2020 strategy for the development of Europe's economy. Through the intervention of the Taoiseach, the EU Heads of Government have underlined the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy to the future of Europe.

Although concrete proposals for the new CAP will not be put on the table by the Commission until the middle of next year, I have been fully engaged with my counterparts in other member states and the European Commission in putting forward Ireland's view at every opportunity in this important phase of negotiations. I am strongly of the view that the future CAP must support farm incomes and address the issue of price and income volatility while avoiding market distortions. Promoting sustainability in all its dimensions and rewarding farmers for the public goods they provide are essential for the future of the industry. In this way we can ensure the sector contributes to green growth as envisaged in the Europe 2020 strategy. These negotiations are vital to the future of Irish agriculture and the agri-food sector.

The Government's position is clear: we must maintain a strong and properly financed agricultural policy in Europe, and we must make sure the CAP of the future encourages competitiveness and innovation through appropriate measures, including support for farm investment. I intend to take every opportunity to ensure that Ireland's position is both voiced and heard when there is any consideration of CAP post-2013 at the European Council. Irish farmers and those operating in the agri-food sector can be assured of the absolute support of the Taoiseach for Ireland's stated commitment to a strong and adequately resourced CAP after 2013, which will preserve the principles of solidarity, support for primary production, food security, quality and safety and the protection of farm families.

Although there are those opposite who would try to misrepresent the Government's support for the agri-food sector, the facts do not bear out this contention. The Government has invested and is continuing to invest in this productive sector and is determined to ensure the sector is robust, resilient and competitive in years to come. Given global population growth, increased urbanisation and changing dietary habits, there are enormous opportunities for Irish agriculture and the agri-food sector in the coming years and decades. With those opportunities come challenges, and the Government's commitment is to stand with this most important indigenous sector to meet those challenges and fully exploit the undoubted opportunities that exist. The sector can be assured of my full support as Minister, as well as that of the Taoiseach and the Government.

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