Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

As the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food stated last night, there are still no detailed proposals from the European Commission on the future of the CAP and they are not expected to be published until next month. This debate may, therefore, be a little premature. Working off leaked documents is not always the best way to go forward. The Minister and his officials will fight our corner well in the negotiations with other European countries. The addition of newer member states in the next round of CAP reforms will make these negotiations more difficult. It would be rather foolish of the Minister to give away his hand as to how he will approach the negotiations on behalf of the State at this stage.

Ireland has a massive role to play in food security, not just for Ireland but also for Europe. Ireland has excellent biodiversity with good land management while there is still large potential for growth in the bio-economy. The agrifood industry is well developed, diversified and achieves high standards. Food Harvest 2020 is an excellent strategy document to develop this industry. It did not, however, get the credit it was due when it was published because of everything else going on in the economy at the time. It lays out where growth can be achieved in beef, pork and milk production and aquaculture.

Apart from what the CAP reforms will bring to Irish agriculture, there is much we can do ourselves. A large number of State agencies are involved in the agrifood industry which comprises large companies such as the large co-operatives down to small artisan producers. They are all involved in getting the best outcomes from our agricultural sector. We must start to get these organisations to work more closely together to maximise the best outcomes. While there is a need for the larger companies to maximise their profits, emphasis must also be put on research and other innovations in the agrifood sector.

Farmers, by nature, are extremely resourceful. The Government has a strong role to play in assisting the agrifood sector but we must also let it get on without too much regulation. Irish agrifood products are recognised across the world for their high standards due to good regulation. When food regulations break down, as at the time of the dioxin scare in the pork industry, it can have a massive knock-on effect on the market credibility of Irish food produce. It is important, therefore, to maintain good regulation and high standards. There will always be a debate as to whether the industry is being over or under-regulated. We need to have a realistic debate on this issue and not give in for the free-for-all for which some are calling.

A focus must be put on current problems with milk production with milk quotas and the superlevy. The markets will change in 2015 but many farmers expected greater potential in the milk production area and may have expanded too much before time. We must ensure we achieve a solution in the CAP reform so as not to slow down our milk industry and affect the potential to expand after 2015.

I see much potential in the agrifood sector. I have full confidence in the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to do the right thing for us in Europe. There is a necessity, however, for us to examine the industry from within and see how we can maximise the industry's potential to grow returns for the family farm and jobs.

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