Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I refer to Deputy Naughten's question about peripheral regions. There has been a acknowledgement of the counties where dairying is to be expanded and this has been referred to in the House on many occasions. Over the past 30 to 35 years, there has been a significant movement away from agricultural production on the western seaboard and in peripheral regions. There are parishes where half the land is afforested. The dairy industry was the industry that began the co-operative movement in some of the poorer regions of the country and it was the mainstay of the western side of the country With the abolition of quotas we must ensure that the dairy industry and milk production is maintained in these peripheral regions. As the Minister has acknowledged on several occasions this is not just an economic policy but also a social policy. We have to ensure that these regions are garnered and while they may not have the most fertile land or cash-efficient production methods, these societies have a value and they should be encouraged to continue in agricultural production.

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