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

I thank Deputy Eamon Ryan for sharing time. I want to clarify that there are systems in place whereby farmers have gone the natural way and they can raise their cattle to 36 months. Currently, in the commercial sector, it is 30 months. There is a lot to be said for bringing cattle up on grass in the normal way they have always been reared.

I was present for the debate last night. On yesterday's edition of "Today with Sean O'Rourke", Cormac Healy of MII stated clearly that €3.60 is the base price. I asked if he would come out and clarify if that was the position because a price of €3.45 is being quoted in parts of the country. However, as per usual, the MII did not come out and clarify the position. The Minister needs to find out what base price is being given because depending on the part of the country one is in, there is a variance in the price.

The Minister gave the go-ahead in respect of the POs. He hailed it as a great step forward but, unfortunately, the factories are stonewalling. The Minister needs to put pressure on the processors and tell them that they have to engage.

An agreement was reached last weekend. I stated on Sunday - I say it again now - that there are many good parts to that agreement. The current situation needs to be resolved. Farmers are very unclear on the base price. That is what is causing the problem. There are cattle and sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

We have to be mindful that there is a backlog and that these animals have to be killed shortly. To put it very simply, are we going to keep going down the road where we raise cattle under protected geographical indication, PGI, status, in feed lots, where they never see daylight and look out through a barrier or are we going to raise them, as we were brought up to do in natural farming, where they had grass for most of their lives? Are we codding people in other countries by putting this green Bord Bia symbol on cattle that for six, nine or ten months are looking out through barriers?

We have the finest product in Europe, if not in the world, and we have the stock to prove it. We have the grass to grow it and we are still not giving the farmers the premium price. If we want to tackle this whole problem, we must put a maximum stocking limit. I would always suggest two units per hectare to give everybody a fair chance. We cannot continue giving derogations to feed lots and to industrialised dairy outfits, letting them export the slurry out of their farms under the nitrates. This arose during the year where it was suggested that by spreading a little bit of lime, it would be all right. If we continue to do that, it is like voting for the same people where we will continue to get the same result.

There was warning today from Teagasc about dairy calves next year. There is a problem brewing. If we tackle this head-on, do these things and farm naturally, there will be a price for our product.

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