Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief and allow the Minister to address some of the points that have been raised by my colleagues.

The ongoing crisis facing beef farmers has been multiplied by the Covid-19 crisis. Has the beef task force - the famous group that was set up a number of years ago - met in a virtual form or have there been discussions on setting out a roadmap for beef farmers as we move forward? There are various methods of holding conference calls now and it is crucial that every stakeholder be engaged at the highest possible level. It is important that there be a roadmap that, as other Deputies mentioned, considers the world economy as we go into the back end of 2020 and challenges the EU in every way to make as much available to beef farmers as possible. There is and will continue to be a crisis at the farm gate.

Regarding the dairy industry, milk processors are putting pressure on the prices they are giving farmers at the gate.

We have at all times to be mindful of the primary producer who is producing top quality food. We have taken the primary producer for granted over the years because of other issues that have been around the place. We must look at that.

Has the Minister spoken to the chief executives of milk processing companies and got a sense of the implications, challenges and forecasts for the dairy industry in the coming 12 months?

The Minister mentioned various schemes, including the targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, TAMS, and changes in deadlines. Those have been already committed to. In the various discussions the Minister has had with the European Union, does it accept that agriculture on the island of Ireland is under savage pressure? We must ensure that every aspect of agriculture is brought to the table at European level. Is there recognition at European level, or has the European Union moved away from the Common Agricultural Policy and providing quality food for the citizens of Europe? Is there a commitment at EU level to make sure that every support is made available to the farmer and the agriculture industry as it faces the most unprecedented times it has ever faced?

I will leave my outstanding two minutes to allow the Minister to address other issues. I would particularly like to hear his thoughts on the beef and dairy sectors and the challenges at a European level.

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