Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

With regard to the last part of Deputy Doyle's question, I welcome the fact that this issue has been highlighted in the all-party Oireachtas committee's paper on the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013. I have raised this issue in Europe from the point of view that even if we attain best practice in this country, it is important that similar practices operate in the other member states of the European Union. We export 85% of the food we produce. I am pleased the European Commission has agreed to establish a high-level group on the competitiveness of the agrifood sector. The Vice President of the Commission has asked me to participate in this working group and I am pleased to do so. I am also pleased the issue is being addressed at this level in the European Commission because it denotes the importance of the issue there.

I agree with Deputy Doyle. There is a real issue with retail margins on products and it is a matter of concern to the public. Increasingly, retail power is in the hands of a few large supermarket chains. In the meetings I have held with the multiples since I became the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I have highlighted the concerns of the consumer and the industry. In each meeting I have outlined to them that the individual farmer has invested heavily in farm facilities, as has the Government. In addition, the Government and the taxpayer have invested vast resources in putting in place a robust and vigorous system of traceability. Our food is produced to an exceptionally high standard and this has come through investment by individual producers, the Government and processors. All those involved require an adequate return for the significant investments they have made to provide a system that produces top-quality food.

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