Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am acutely aware of it. One perhaps ironic fact that emerged from the statistics in the survey was that the reduction between 2015 to 2016 was almost entirely in the dairy sector, which represents 19% of all farms. Income has gone from an average of €62,000 to €51,000, whereas the other sectors are stable. It is hard to believe, with the exception of tillage, that is the case. Tillage, or arable, farming has taken a significant drop. It represents 9% of farms, and I think we are all acutely aware of it. There have been tools, such as the agri-cashflow, which have tried to help people through it. In response to the Deputy's question, a fair price for a fair product is important. As a farmer, I understand this as well as anyone. Commissioner Phil Hogan is planning to present a report with a recommendation for EU-wide legislation on fair trade practices later this year. I have been advocating for that since I came into this House. I started off with the fruit and vegetable sector, the horticulture sector, which had perishable products often being sold through a producer group to domestic retailers, and it was suffering. We must continue to ensure we advocate for that. A report is due from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on how that fair trade legislation is working. That also needs to be reviewed in terms of taking new measures, if needs be, to strengthen that. It is something that we would want also.

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