Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Article 39.1(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that one of its objectives is "to ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, in particular by increasing the individual earnings of persons engaged in agriculture". What are we doing to achieve that? What is Europe doing to achieve it? We are nurturing a system that has anti-competitive practices. The four movement rule, the 30-month age limit and a series of BSE-era restrictions throughout the world are hampering our marketing and our search for other markets. We have only three agricultural attachés in embassies outside Europe. We must get up to speed with the situation, stop talking the talk and represent farmers' interests. There are many measures in place, such as supermarkets selling products effectively below cost to bring in customers and make their margins on other products. There needs to be some form of food regulator or food ombudsman to ensure that farmers can meet the cost of production and earn a profit. There are issues with factories, multiples, anti-competitive practices, unnecessary restrictions and the need to sell to new markets.

I have no heard no talk of market supports. In theory, a hard Brexit could happen on 12 April. What is the situation with introducing intervention or aids to private storage? Has the Minister discussed the matter with the Commissioner in Brussels? What is the position? Can something like this be introduced overnight? We need to talk about it now, not when the horse has bolted. The payment of €200 per suckler cow for the first 20 cows in the herd is vital, as my colleague has outlined. Under Pillar 2 in any reform of the CAP, we should consider a viability grant for small holdings for farmers. These are the kinds of measures that are needed.

I welcome the various organisations in attendance, particularly the newest of them, which is the Beef Plan Movement. I appeal to the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and other established organisations to listen to it and take on board the 86 issues that it has highlighted to improve the situation. It would be remiss of me not to welcome to the Gallery the newest female member of the national council of the IFA, Kathleen Henry BL. I ask the Minister to listen to this person because she has the expertise and knowledge of what small farmers in the engine room of the suckler cow herd in the west need. I hope that he will act on her recommendations.

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