Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This man is not a Taoiseach or anybody like that; he is a professional man. He says he does not touch it. That is part of the issue. We have to recognise that. We cannot be blind to what is happening. That is what is going on. Sometimes in here we try to set out what is happening out there and are told, "Oh, that does not happen at all." Some of us here try to invent reality, but I face reality, I am pragmatic and I try to get solutions. If we solve this thing tomorrow, I ask colleagues not to be fooled. I will be gone out of here. I will not worry. They will have to deal with it, but I ask them not to be fooled. In 12, 24 or 36 months, they will be back again because a fundamental restructuring of this industry has to take place, and that is the problem. Sticking-plaster solutions are grand, they get one over the hole, but that is no good because long term, this will implode. I have always held that view of this industry. It is a €3 billion industry. We have falling prices. We are talking €3.50 or €3.60. If a farmer got the €3.60 and could get the various things that are promised, premiums and subsidies and the like, we would get close to €4, but anybody going out of here tonight and pretending that €4 is achievable this evening or tomorrow is grossly misleading and telling lies to people.

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