Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Very good.

On the matter of indulgences - I am hoping not to turn you into a medieval pope, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, given the number you are giving out tonight - I wish to respond to my constituency colleague. I also declare that I am a farmer, as I did on the previous night. I am a beef finisher. I wish the Deputy every success as an organic farmer. I envy him because I would very much like to be an organic farmer, but whatever slim chance there might be of being paid above the cost of production for producing food, there is no chance of producing organic beef in the west above the cost of production at the moment, given the pricing mechanisms and the apparent monopoly reflected in the prices that are paid for organic beef when it is finished. It is entirely dependent on subsidies to sustain it. Unless and until the increased cost of production is rewarded in the price at the factory gates, I fear for its future.

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