Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Kelly for sharing his time with me. I join others in welcoming the IFA, the ICSA and the Beef Plan Movement to the Gallery for this important debate. It is striking that the Gallery is full. In my years in this House we have seen many debates on agriculture for which the Chamber was full yet it is striking that there is such poor attendance by many Deputies this evening, although farming is the backbone of rural Ireland beyond the Pale. We need to set that in context. The Minister knows that farming is a very precarious occupation and there is great uncertainty. It behoves him, the Government and all of us to ensure that this uncertainty is mitigated as much as possible. Unfortunately we have not seen enough action from the Minister or the Government to mitigate that uncertainty or reassure our farm families. There are 4,500 farm families across Limerick engaged in various forms of farming such as dairy, beef etc., and they are very worried, particularly with the backdrop of Brexit. On the beef issue, which we are primarily discussing today, how can any farmer or farm family be expected to survive when, although prime beef is retailing on the shelf at €22 per kilogram, the farmer is getting €3.70 for it? He or she is selling it below cost. We cannot continue to stand over a situation where we are engaged in below-cost selling. It is just not sustainable.

In the context of Brexit, I have heard the Minister and the Taoiseach say on many an occasion that they, the Government and the European Union stand ready, willing and able to step in to support our farming sector and our farm families. However, they have not given us any detail. They have not told us what kind of money or funding is available. We have detailed 14 actions in our Private Members' motion, which the Government is accepting. I urge the Government to give the farm families of Limerick and Ireland some detail as to how much money it will have at its disposal to help them once Brexit kicks in.

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