Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Pringle for giving me the opportunity to speak. We are all aware that this issue is 20 years in the making. As I have often said, one cannot turn on a light switch and solve everything overnight. In fairness, the farming organisations went in for discussions over the weekend. It was unfortunate that Meat Industry Ireland would not meet them directly, but in fairness to the Minister and the Secretary General, they tried to hammer out a deal. There are good things in this agreement. From what we have heard in recent days, there may not be enough, but there are good things such as the 8 cent per kilogram bonus for cattle over 30 months, the increased bonus of 20 cent for cattle under 30 months, the review of the 30-month rule, which is needed, and the four-movement rule, which is absolutely crazy. One of these could have been dropped if it had been based on movements because the first person's name would not be put down. The reduction of the residency requirement to 60 days is also welcome. Those measures are positive, as is the index, which will allow farmers to know what is going on in Europe. We need transparency in the whole industry. From my understanding, the staff in the Department provided great help in respect of the purchase organisations, POs, over the past week or ten days.

The Minister asked all of the farming organisations to go out and sell the deal. It is therefore very disappointing that tonight - ten minutes ago - I got a call from an individual in one of the farming organisations who went out to sell the Minister's deal, which was agreed by the farming organisations, telling me that one of the factories had sent legal documents and now intends to say that this person was part of a protest as a result of going out to sell the deal on Sunday or Monday night. That is not the spirit of partnership. It is disgusting to think that one of the factories or processors would do this. That information has just come to my attention.

There is another issue in solving this problem. I went to a place on Sunday evening and guys came to sell the deal. It was not going down well. The farmers acknowledged that there were good parts in it. People were told to read it again up to last night, when they came back again. The one sticking point at the moment is the base price. Everybody here, including the Minister and me, knows that this is the issue. Whether one is a producer with 500 or 600 cattle or a PO group with sheep, let us not hide from it or duck it. Let us be honest and open. There is between 10 cent and 15 cent to be had from being in a PO. That is how it works, because a PO can supply the commodity that is required. I spoke to some of the sheep groups today. They told me how they operate and what is given. It is sad. If MII recognised the POs, progress could be made overnight. I ask the Minister to go back to MII and talk to Mr. Healy who is doing a lot of shouting on the radio, as was noted earlier. He said €3.60 was available as the base price. That is a lie. The base price given last night and this morning was €3.45. If the producers are giving €3.60, let Mr. Healy come out and confirm that. Otherwise, I ask the Minister to go back to MII and Mr. Healy. Are the producers being stopped from paying this price by certain individuals in the meat industry? This matter can move on. If the POs are recognised by all the meat processors, and the deal that is generally done is agreed, it can be solved. No one is asking for anything over and above that. There is nothing underhand or overhead. This is the way it is done throughout the rest of Europe. Indeed, there is precedent for it in Ireland. This issue can be solved.

There is also anger with regard to Bord Bia and this needs to be addressed. A month ago, one could not sell an animal in the North under the nomadic rule. Cattle are shooting up and down today and Bord Bia gives them quality approval. There is something unusual about that. We also have to look at the protected geographical indication, PGI. As was said earlier, we are in danger of losing 70,000 farms that produce beef. We have 345 feedlots in this country. Should they be given PGI status if the animals are looking out through a barrier for most of their lives? Should we instead recognise the people who are producing animals from grass and give them the premium price they deserve? There are decisions to be made.

Everyone around this country acknowledges that there are many cattle that need to be killed. There are also sheep that need to be killed. People need to reflect on where everything is. When we are talking about jobs, no one talked to the factory workers' unions. The unions sent letters to MII but no one talked to them. The producers simply laid off the staff. A broken down subcontractor going from one water job to another would keep his or her staff going for a month. The conglomerates should be ashamed of themselves for letting their workers go when one considers the profits they have made. MII has decisions to make. It must tell the various factory owners to engage with the POs and do the deal. That is what it comes down to. This can and must be sorted in a day or two.

As Deputy Cahill touched on earlier, we also need to make sure that the export of live cattle is kept up. We have to ensure that we get whatever ingredients or facilities in other countries that we need to do so.

It is damning to see Hungarian or Italian beef with a Bord Bia mark on it-----

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