Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was in Inishowen in the Minister's constituency, very close to the Minister's home place yesterday, although I did not call in for tea. I am sure the Minister has heard and understands the concern of farmers in his area, as well as in my home county, that rather than PGI status being a stream by which additional revenue and income will be delivered, which should be the priority for our farmers who are most at risk - our suckler farmers - it will become another excuse for the factories to pay less where the PGI standard is not met. The crux of this is that the scheme is so broad that it will result in the few farmers who do not meet the standard suffering a penalty as opposed to everyone securing an increase in price. Irish suckler beef is the best quality beef in the world but this has not been reflected in the prices that Irish suckler farmers have received. This scheme has the potential to resolve that problem but I am not sure it will.

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