Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate as the outgoing chairman of the agriculture committee and as a beef farmer. Agricultural output has been a key driver over the past several years in the overall economy. The obligation now, as I stated at the end of January, is to improve and protect incomes for primary producers. The agriculture committee produced a report, Report on the Grocery Goods Sector - Increasing equity and transparency in producer-processor-retailer relationships. This will be fundamental to improving the income return to the primary producer. It is not rocket science, and nor does it take a genius to know, that without food, human beings would not exist on this planet. There is an obligation on legislators, as well as those within the industry at national and global level, to allow countries and areas in the world, which can produce food in the most environmentally and animal welfare friendly way, to continue to do so. The collision course between agricultural output and greenhouse gas reduction obligations must be faced in a mature fashion. It must be recognised that agricultural output in this country is achieved to the highest environmental standards.

The agriculture committee agreed on preconditions to any agreement on TTIP which it put to the European Commission. A far greater threat, however, and one which was under the radar for a certain time but has manifested itself again, is Mercosur. This is the one on which we need to concentrate collectively.

I would be very sceptical about any benefits to the Irish agricultural sector if Mercosur, as it is currently being negotiated, became a reality.

The new grocery goods regulations came into force on Saturday, 30 April 2016. The director of regulation in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission must produce a report by next March on how the commission has implemented those regulations in respect of retailers and wholesalers with a turnover in excess of €50 million. This will be very important. It is important for all of us here with an interest in ensuring there is a fair price for everybody within the industry, particularly the primary producer, that this is seen to work. A total of 20 of the 28 EU member states have voluntary or statutory arrangements in place to monitor how the price is divided up along the price chain. It is not about subsidies per se. It is about giving a real return for primary producers' produce. It is about making sure they get a fair return on the market and have all the enabling tools such as advice, knowledge transfer or flexible credit facilities so that they can grow their business. That is what we need. We need young trained professionals who can expect a lifestyle and an income - not to be millionaires but to have a lifestyle. My sons might come home but I know that unless they have another income stream even though it is not a small farm, although it is not a massive one, it is not a realisable objective. This is the area we must concentrate on. It is doable and it is a precious finite resource. We need to look at land use as opposed to an agricultural policy. I have always said that we need a land use policy that encompasses all elements. This way, we can embrace the debate on climate change.

See this speech in context