Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

When we discuss recovery, we should start with indigenous aspects of our economy where we have a level of knowledge and expertise. We do not need to reinvent the wheel but to get back to basics. When one considers the quality of our land and suitability of our climate while concentrating on what we are good at, agriculture is an obvious sector with which to start. However, to do so we must ensure that the primary producer - the farmer - is able to make a viable income from the land.

As someone who has a mixed farming enterprise in south County Kildare, I am all too aware of the challenge it is for a beef and grain producer to make ends meet. While we face into CAP reform negotiations and uncertainty as to the future of payments and supports beyond 2013, we must always remain mindful that all any farmer desires is to be able to get to a point where he or she can make a living from his or her produce. No farmer wants to be fighting over payments and paperwork. No farmer wants be in a position where he or she needs to avail of the farm assist income support scheme because his or her income is insufficient to survive on. However, until we reach a point where the producer receives an appropriate portion of the final price of the produce we must continue with a strongly funded price support scheme post 2013 in Europe.

In discussing the future of agriculture, one aspect of the sector that should be revisited is that of sugar production. It was one of the initial industries set up by the first Government in the 1920s. It survived through generations, including the economic crisis of the 1930s and the oil crisis of the 1970s, but it did not survive the Celtic tiger. The production of sugar beet had a large spin-off, not just for farmers and growers, but for the hundreds of factory workers employed, the hauliers, machinery trade dealers and manufacturers, consumers and the wider community. The benefit of sugar beet as an important break crop to the soil is also of significance.

The added value aspect of bioethanol production at a time of soaring oil costs only adds weight to the argument that Ireland should look to return to producing sugar beet. I urge the Minister to support any move by private industry and farmers in Ireland to return to producing sugar beet if it is proved feasible to do so by the studies being undertaken.

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