Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

-----and confidence has returned to the sector. I recall meeting worried representatives of the agri-food business at the height of this crisis, at which time it was suggested that up to 40% of its base would disappear because of factors exacerbated by the exchange rate problem. This is because many of our goods and services in this area go into the sterling area, as the Deputies know. All of them have come through and all have growth strategies. I am thankful that primary producers such as farmers have had a much better year this year than in the preceding two. There is now leadership. I acknowledge the leadership in the farming community and agri-food sector. People in the sector are getting on with their work and saying we must move on and increase our output and job content. These are our own natural resources.

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