Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is with pride that the Rural Independent Group brings this Private Members' motion forward on behalf of the beef sector. The beef industry supports more than 70,000 beef farmers and 10,000 jobs across processing, distribution and transport. The industry is worth approximately €2.5 billion annually and the vast majority of the income remains in the rural economy. The price of feed for animals has risen by 25%, with recent increases in EU import duty on beet pulp and molasses.

One of the schemes put in place to help farmers was the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, with 12,600 farmers applying for 2,000 places. Some 63% of those were beef farmers, depending on this to boost their income. The scheme was one of the partnership approaches by the Government to help farmers addressing climate change challenges and biodiversity. Are we actually serious? There were 12,600 applicants for 2,000 places.

I ask the Minister to look at the regulation of the beef industry. The Minister cannot be seen to regulate the market but he can investigate the failings of the market. For instance, there are not enough processors in the market. Will the Minister bring in an independent gatekeeper to the industry, not a paid passenger? The industry needs someone who, ultimately, will help our farmers and primary producers. The regulator needs to be given real powers and resources to oversee the sector and make direct recommendations to the Government. This needs to be a fair competition. Market transparency and just prices must be given to the beef farmer. What farmers have been put through from every angle is beyond reason. The EU is looking for 100% convergence, which will not happen. A more realistic figure is 75%. The Minister cannot bend on this. In the programme for Government, there was a commitment that carbon tax would be ring-fenced for new environmental scheme similar to REPS. When regulation comes in regarding agriculture, it is important that viable farmers are not compromised.

The Minister must work with the beef farmers to bring them into the consultation process, and not just as spectators. He needs to acknowledge that they have a meaningful contribution to make. Many of the farming bodies have acknowledged that we need a proper definition of a farmer. For example, we need to define what an output-based, genuine farmer is.

The fair deal scheme requires farm families and small business owners to put aside 7.5% of the value of their land or assets annually to pay for the care of a family member. This will completely deplete the asset and there will be nothing left for the next generation.

Everything that is happening here is putting farmers' lives and the lives of the next generation at risk. Everything is increasing. There have been 12,600 applications for 2,000 places. Fuel has increased by 25% since last year. Bringing in the harvest costs more. Everything costs more. Farmers, particularly beef farmers, need to be protected. I stated in the Dáil 12 months ago that we needed a beef industry regulator to look after the regulation of prices. Beef farmers always get the lower price and the feed farmers always get the highest. I asked the Minister to check the books not on an annual basis but on a monthly or quarterly basis to find out who is getting the highest prices for beef. Let us have transparency across the entire beef industry.

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