Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I offer my congratulations to Deputy McConalogue, who is to be appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine today. It has been said that this is the Taoiseach's third attempt to appoint a Minister to this portfolio. I wish the new Minister the best of luck in his position, which is vital to the economy. I also congratulate Deputy James Browne on his appointment as Minister of State. Agriculture provides 173,000 jobs and accounts for 10% of this country's exports. The position of Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is so important to the economy, to agriculture and to the family farms that are found throughout rural Ireland and that constitute its heart.

We can talk about how we arrived at today's position, but my message to the new Minister is that the industry is at a very critical juncture. Farmers are worried. Young farmers are reluctant to take over the family farm. Farm incomes are disrupted and unsure. There are so many uncertainties right now. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will face challenges, the first of which is Brexit. The Common Agricultural Policy will determine our farmers' future. We also need an effective beef market task force to ensure a fair price for everybody involved in the industry. Our agrifood policies must ensure that we add value to all our products and get the greatest possible benefit for our producers. Our sheep farmers need solid markets. The forestry licensing situation has been mentioned. I can tell the Minister that with the way things are going, we will have no timber in this country by the end of the year. That must be tackled head on. Farming must be supported in dealing with climate change. We must protect the family farm and ensure that rules and regulations do not drive people away from agriculture. We cannot continue to target farmers, who are best in class when it comes to carbon emissions in beef and sheep production.

Many farming families are watching today with their fingers crossed, hoping that the new Minister will be someone who understands the issues and will engage with the very hectic challenges that dominate agriculture. He must hit the ground running. No lead-in time will be afforded to this Minister. Farmers cannot wait any longer. It is now time for this Government and the new Minister to demonstrate the leadership required to bring farmers together and to unite the industry so that it can prevail in the future.

Again, I offer the new Minister my new wishes. As a rural Deputy serving Galway East, which has many small family farms, I commit myself to engaging positively and constructively with him in the interests of agriculture in Ireland.

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