Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Creed on his appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and wish him well in that role. I also congratulate Deputy Andrew Doyle on his appointment as Minister of State at that Department. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is a crucial Department, dealing with a sector that is important to our economy and to many working families. I wish the Minister and Minister of State well in their endeavours. As Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture, food and the marine, I look forward to working closely with them to try to ensure agricultural incomes are protected and the sector thrives.

The question deals with income volatility, decreasing prices and the expectation in too many farming sectors of producing at below the cost of production, which issues are the cause of growing concern for farmers. The Teagasc annual farm survey, which is valuable in the significant contribution it makes every year to the debate on the state of the farming sector, showed an average increase in farm income last year of 6%, albeit from a very low base. I know the Minister, Deputy Creed, and the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, are aware of the difficulties facing the dairy, beef and tillage sectors, among others.

I welcome the Minister's statement that he proposes to meet the CEOs of the financial institutions. Will he comment on the proposed establishment of a national food ombudsman to ensure a mechanism is in place through which primary food producers can get a fair price for the food they produce? Will the Minister also comment on convening a joint meeting of the existing beef and dairy forums and other sector representatives to discuss solutions to the current farm income crisis?

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