Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that very useful response. I very much accept his views in regard to the beef sector. Some of the responses were quite interesting. Some 80% of the respondents to the survey by the Irish Farmers' Journal said they want nothing to do with a dairy reduction scheme. We can understand why; it is a very emotive issue. They have invested in their own technology and they do not see why the most efficient farmers in the world here in Ireland should be replaced by less efficient farmers elsewhere on the planet. However, there were 20% of respondents who would consider looking at such a scheme. It might suit them from a health point of view. Some of the farmers are moving on in age; they are not getting any younger. They might not have a successor lined up for the farm either. There is an opportunity here for a properly constructed scheme, which could facilitate farmers who want to exit the sector without damaging the viability and livelihood of family farmers who wish to remain inside that sector and to keep farming, as they have been doing for generations. There is a small bit of opportunity here for a scheme if it is properly constructed.

See this speech in context