Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:"notes:— the importance of the beef sector to the economy, demonstrated by the 8% increase in the combined value of meat and livestock exports in 2013, rising by €245 million to reach €3.3 billion; — that the beef sector performance has already surpassed the Food Harvest 2020 target by 18% and has almost reached the Beef 2020 Activation Group revised target of 40%; — that total live exports to date this year are over 150,000 head, of which 25,000 went to the UK, an increase of 14% on the comparable period in 2013; — that beef prices have weakened since the high of 2013, but prices in Ireland still remain above the EU 15 average; and — that there has been evidence of weakened consumer demand due in part to competitive factors from other meat products;recognises that the beef sector remains a priority for Government in terms of support of agriculture and that a number of actions have been taken by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to date to deal with current challenges including:— a round table on the beef sector has met on two occasions bringing together farm organisations, beef processors and relevant State agencies to discuss recent challenges; — a 'Beef Pricewatch' online tool to make price information more accessible and free of charge to farmers is being developed; — legislation for the recognition of producer organisations in the beef sector is being developed and a consultation with key stakeholder groups will commence shortly; — Bord Bia has allocated €0.5 million to expand and target promotion of Irish beef through its campaigns in the UK and in certain continental markets, added to the annual overall beef marketing budget of €9 million; — the Dowling report has been completed and recommends a simple and transparent system of price recognition for animals within market specification based on the Quality Payments System, with a bonus to incentivise production to optimal market specification; — the Report also calls on processors to ensure that communication with farmers on any changes to market specifications takes account of the normal production cycle; — Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation are working together to ensure that advice, education and breeding policy remains consistent with evolving markets; and — the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine discussed beef trade challenges with his Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister Michelle O'Neill, at a recent North-South Ministerial Council and discussions are ongoing in this regard; and acknowledges that: — significant commitments have been made by Government to invest in the beef sector through a revised Common Agricultural Policy negotiated by the Irish Presidency of the EU worth €12.5 billion to the Irish agrifood sector; — €295 million is programmed for the Beef Data Programme and the Beef Genomics Scheme under the Rural Development Programme, RDP; — the new agri-environment scheme, GLAS, will provide for a total investment of €l,450 million over the lifetime of the RDP, significantly benefitting beef farmers; — in 2014, €40 million is being invested in the beef sector through the Beef Genomics Scheme, the Beef Data and Beef Technology Adoption Programmes; — targeted on-farm capital investments will also be provided to suckler farmers through the new RDP; — market access has recently been achieved for beef in countries such as Japan, Singapore, Egypt and Iran; in 2014, access terms have been agreed with the Lebanon and Namibia; inspections and negotiations are ongoing in regard to the Chinese and Canadian markets; and, after a significant diplomatic and technical effort, the United States Food Safety and Inspection Service will shortly be auditing Irish plants with a view to allowing beef access to the US; — the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is currently embarking on a very significant trade mission to the US regarding beef access and negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and — the US Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. Thomas Vilsack, and senior Chinese representative Mr. Liu Yunshan both visited Ireland last week to discuss beef trade issues and other agrifood opportunities." - (Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Tom Hayes)

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