Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wholeheartedly support the motion tabled by my party's agriculture spokesman, Deputy Charlie McConalogue. The suckler sector and the beef producers of this country need proper supports to ensure that we can continue to deliver high quality beef cuts to the housewives at home and abroad. I urge the Minister not to go down the same road as his predecessor when the current Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Coveney, told our tillage sector to switch to alternative agriculture operations, i.e. to start milking cows. That was only a couple of years ago with the abolition of milk quotas.

I remind the Minister of the programme for Government, which states that:

A strong commitment to ensure sustained profitability in the beef sector will be at the heart of a new Government. Market volatility and a fair return from the market place are ongoing concerns for the industry. A new Government will focus on bringing about change by encouraging profitability through greater efficiencies... Maintaining a strong and viable suckler herd is a key priority and this will be a focus of the work of the beef forum.

Aid is needed in this sector. Another item from the programme for Government, under the heading "trade negotiations", states:

A priority for the new Government will be to safeguard Ireland’s defensive and offensive interests in the context of any future international trade negotiations (such as a potential Mercosur deal). We will ensure that our national interests are protected in any future trade discussions, with a particular focus on beef and food safety standards. We will work with the European Commission and colleagues across the EU to ensure the best possible outcome for Ireland in any future negotiations.

I may have hit close to plagiarism here, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I must ask if Phil Hogan has his heart in the right place. I ask him to pull back, especially with Brexit pending. It is important that these negotiations are suspended given Brexit and the crisis in the beef sector.

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