Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

Food Harvest 2020 is a massive goal to achieve but the opening is there for us as a country. Since we joined the EU, Ireland has implemented the highest standards, whether in regard to traceability or the environment, and I have no doubt that will continue. One cannot just go into farming and set up a dairy or beef herd or a sow unit. We comply with the highest standards in the world and that is why people from other countries come to Ireland on a weekly basis not only to buy our products but to see the measures we implement, so that they can produce food for themselves. We can feed an additional 35 million if we go into full production. I cannot emphasise enough how large this industry can grow.

Working with the best people in the environmental area and with groups will be part of it. Sometimes there can be too many restrictions but there are rules and regulations in place, which Deputy Murphy will know coming from County Kildare. We have the best in the world due to environmental rules. Sometimes, one can overdo rules and put people off getting involved. To achieve growth, our goal is to get various Departments working together instead of separately. My work involves forestry, which covers three Departments. We must pull them together with my role acting as overseer. The role of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is to work with, for example, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure growth and jobs, the benefits of which will spread from rural Ireland to colleges and beyond. This is our hope. There are many matters we can overdo, but this is one with which we will not take chances.

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