Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, thank Deputy Ó Cuív for allowing us a chance to discuss agricultural issues, and I join all my colleagues in complimenting the Minister on the announcement yesterday by the Kerry Group and the earlier announcement by Dairygold, which was noted by Deputy Barry. For me, the most significant part of yesterday's announcement was that Enterprise Ireland seemed to be strategically involved in it. Perhaps that may give us a glimmer of hope that the silo method of government is beginning to collapse and that Enterprise Ireland will be crucial to the delivery of Food Harvest 2020. It sent out a powerful message about where our food industry is going and that Irish food companies such as the Kerry Group can be leaders in the new direction for food.

We must stand back from the announcement, however, and ask ourselves where is the next Kerry Group. Is there a company in the length and breadth of this country which has the ability to be the Kerry Group in ten, 15 or 20 years' time? We must ask ourselves seriously if we are doing all the right things to ensure that can happen.

I suggest that we are not and that we are actually choking many small indigenous food producers and businesses. They are not being choked on foot of anything the Minister is doing, rather their efforts are being stymied as a result of the rules and regulations relating to business and health and safety. We have created a situation whereby it is much more difficult for the small businesses to which I refer to get their operations off the ground than would be the case for their counterparts in other European countries. In the context of the CAP review - and if CAP is to be all about food in Europe - then we must give small indigenous and artisan food companies a chance. That is a matter which the Minister - in light of from where he comes - could bring to the table.

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