Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will share time with Deputies O'Loughlin and McConalogue. Deputy Scanlon may not make it to contribute due to being delayed at an earlier meeting.

I am glad of the opportunity to make a short contribution on this important Private Members' motion, put forward by my colleagues. The motion contains 14 detailed measures. They are realistic and essential proposals, which need to be implemented at the earliest possible date.

Last night Deputies McConalogue and Breathnach, Senator Wilson and I met the farming community in Carlingford, County Louth: farmers from counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath. They were at their wits' end, especially people from the beef sector, the livestock sector and the suckler herd owners. They outlined very clearly to us that they are not making an income and that returns are below the costs of production. They question how long they will remain in the sector. It is very worrying when one hears of good farmers, who have invested heavily in building up their herd and on-farm facilities, questioning their future.

All of us in the House, and those people in the Public Gallery this evening, know that food production is unlike the production of other commodities in that food production cannot be switched on and off. It cannot be switched on at the farm or at the processing or manufacturing sector. If confidence is undermined it is a very negative message for the future. If good people are exiting the sector it is a huge loss to the national economy and to the overall agrifood sector. These people are not making a living currently. These are hard-working farmers who have invested very heavily and have reared stock to the highest standards. This is even before Brexit. We are all aware of the concerns around the adverse impacts Brexit will have regardless of the type of withdrawal Britain will achieve in leaving the European Union.

It is essential that the Minister implement measures to ensure the issues outlined in this Private Members' motion will be addressed. In his opening remarks the Minister of State, Deputy Andrew Doyle, spoke about the significant growth in the value and quantity of food and drink exports since 2009. The Minister also referenced it. While that is very welcome, the Minister of State also referred to the fact that we sold to so many markets because of the high reputation of the products leaving the island. We all know that there has been a huge cost to individual farmers and the State in achieving those high standards. There must, therefore, be a return to the primary producer who is a critical link in the food production chain. We cannot allow farmers to continue to fail to derive the income they need in producing the top quality product this country is very proud to export to so many other countries around the world. I refer again to the CAP. Any reduction in overall CAP funding would be detrimental not only to the rural economy but also to the national economy.

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