Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The motion refers to the massive importance of the agricultural sector to the economy, the large numbers who are either directly or indirectly employed in it, and the many billions its contributes to the national income. In that context, I welcome today's announcement by Kerry Group that it is planning to build a technological innovation centre at Naas. This will lead to the creation of 900 jobs and will provide a further boost to the development of the wider agricultural and food sector in this country. Sinn Féin recognises the centrality of the food sector to the economy. As the largest indigenous sector, to a certain extent it can be utilised to create further jobs and growth independently of the wider economic situation. For example, fewer than 20% of inputs in the food sector are imported. This compares with a figure of over 60% in the area of manufacturing. The sector has also proven to be remarkably resilient in comparison with others that have been hit by the economic downturn.

Apart from the issues to which the motion refers, there are other matters that are crucial to farmers at present. The key matter in this regard and which will be at the centre of everyone's attention for the next year is the 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. This was the subject of a debate in the Seanad last week. I was interested to learn from my colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, that the Minister accepted a Fianna Fáil amendment to the text of the original motion tabled in the Upper House. This is especially interesting in view of the fact that part of said amendment called on the Minister to support a reform that would cap the maximum single farm payment post-2013 and make corporations and conglomerates ineligible for this payment.

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