Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It seems to me that the difficulty as to whether a beast is Irish or Northern Irish has its roots deep in Irish history. For the Deputy to say that, relatively speaking, it has not been a good time for Irish farming is simply incorrect. Ever since we held the Presidency of the European Union, when the Minister, Deputy Coveney, used that opportunity to bring the budgetary situation and reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to a conclusion, it has been a very positive period for agriculture in this country. There is a particular problem, as I have conceded, in the matter of beef, including a labelling issue. In Spain, for example, it has been possible to come together under a single label to promote Irish beef. It is a question of getting the producers to come together here. The Minister is actively attending to the issue and actively engaging with his opposite number in Northern Ireland. If it were as simple as the Deputy suggests, it would already have been resolved. The Minister intends to bring the matter to a conclusion, but the market conditions for beef have changed. That is an aspect of this problem that cannot be changed by any magic wand.

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