Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I share the Deputy's concern that farmers should get the best possible return for their endeavours because without their commitment to producing a quality product, the edifice that is the Irish beef industry would collapse, domestically and internationally. I have said ad nauseamthat processors also need to be aware of the symbiotic relationship that exists and I asked that they engage in the beef forum, bilaterally if not directly, which they agreed to do.

A pilot scheme is followed by evaluation and I am confident that the data which will be collected and fed into the process will be significant and will ensure the initiative is mainstreamed. Until we see the data, however, and see how successful it has been it would be premature to say it will definitely be mainstreamed. If it is not a success and does not help us accelerate the improvement of the beef herd's genetic content, we would have to consider other initiatives but I am confident that it will achieve its aims and that it will be mainstreamed subsequently.

See this speech in context