Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I probably understand more about it than the Deputy in any event.

We are establishing a task force that will oversee the implementation process and develop transparency. We will have an index developed, a review of the grid, what exactly the customer wants and that everybody will understand it. Most importantly, when we get to the point where we understand the overall pricing structure of the animal, we will know what is sold where, how much is the return and what is the overall margin so that primary producers can eventually feel they are getting a fair return, which is not too much to ask. However, we need to make a leap of faith and we need some cordial dialogue among the people who are on the picket lines, the plants being picketed and the major processors. We can get over this but the Members, as policymakers, can continue to respond.

We have put in place numerous measures built on driving farm efficiency, be it the beef data and genomics programme, BDGP, or the beef efficiency programme. We have established environmental measures and targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, TAMS, for farm safety. We have brought in the exceptional aid package because of the market distortion. They are all fine in so far as what they achieve. Perhaps we need to consider moving in the direction of sustainable energy production, having solar panels on roofs and that type of thing in the future. However, we must get to the point where we move forward from this process in which the Minister, his team and the seven farm organisations engaged last weekend. The is the end of phase 1, not the end of the process. We are beginning phase 2 and we have an opportunity to embrace the structure that has been established to allow what has been achieved a chance to work. If it does not, I do not know what the answer is but I shudder to think of what will be the impact. In saying that, I am not placing the blame on anybody but that is the crux of the matter.

We need to take a step back. Ultimately, we want primary producers to have a fair standard of living, a fair reward for their work. We want them to be able to understand that is what they are getting through the task force, the index, and the grid so that we can plan for the future. Otherwise, we will see an inevitable change in the agricultural sector structure away from primary beef production to secondary beef production and arable production of whatever kind, but it will not be the same.

The beef industry is vital. We face the double-whammy challenge of Brexit. We have engaged with people. In fairness to everybody involved, they stood back to allow the Chinese inspections take place. We faced that because of the outbreak of African flu in China and we sought to capitalise on that market which we worked to develop for many years. We have engaged in the slow, laborious process of the building of trust. We might be on the cusp of something and the last thing we need to do is to curtail our ability to supply that market because of something that is happening at the moment. I appeal to everybody, the processors and the people who are still on picket lines outside the plants to engage to see if a solution can be found in order to allow what has been achieved, which we should not underestimate, to be developed. Let us give it a chance.

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