Dáil debates
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Agriculture: Statements
11:20 am
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
It is my intention to report back to the Oireachtas as soon as I have received the Attorney General’s advice and I have examined a way forward in the context of that advice. Subject to that advice, I would be open to amending the current statutory instrument to move further towards meeting the concerns raised on the assignment of points following the completion of the prosecution process.
There are other current issues, including landing obligations, pelagic controls and cameras on boats, which we also discussed with fishing industry representatives yesterday.
I am aware that across the farming sector this has been a difficult 12 months. We need to plan for the rest of the year to ensure that we do not have beef price problems later in the year on foot of an increasing herd. That is why live cattle exports to new markets such as Turkey are so important. We also need to ensure that we help the dairy sector to get through a temporary pricing problem. It is a temporary problem, but it is a very real one.
Many of the measures I have outlined are an appropriate response to many of those challenges. We will continue to design new responses as the year progresses through the beef and dairy forums, where there is direct debate with all the stakeholders involved. I look forward to hearing what Deputies have to say. I cannot be here for the entire debate because there are other issues going on today in which I am very involved, but I will stay for as much of the debate as I can. I hope Deputies will understand that.
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