Dáil debates

Thursday, 20 May 2021

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Agriculture Industry

9:00 am

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the impact of factory owned feedlots on the beef sector including their effect on prices and the environment. [26906/21]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine ensure that his Department will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the impact of factory-owned feedlots on the beef sector, including on prices and the environment?

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. It is important to clarify that there is no legal definition of a feedlot herd. The Department defines certain herds as controlled finishing units, CFUs, in the context of the bovine TB eradication programme. This definition is unique to that programme and does not necessarily mirror the use of the term "feedlot" by the public and-or other institutions. CFUs are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures as part of the TB programme and can only sell direct to slaughter.

The Department's statutory responsibility in the context of meat plants is to approve slaughter plants in accordance with the European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 and after that to ensure that its approved plants operate in compliance with the EU's food hygiene legislation and animal health and welfare standards. The Department's remit in regard to finishing units is to ensure that they operate in compliance with the EU's animal health and welfare standards. The Department cannot, in carrying out this process, take into account issues such as the concentration of ownership of inputs to processing as it is outside the scope of this remit.

I have acknowledged the importance of transparency in the market for primary producers. The Department is progressing several initiatives under my ministerial stewardship to increase transparency. Central to my commitment to transparency is the establishment of a new office, to be called the office of the national food ombudsman or something similar. The additional powers to be assigned to the new office by primary legislation, going beyond those in the unfair trading practices directive, are currently the subject of public consultation, which is open until 26 May. This new office will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department and Bord Bia currently publish data in this regard.

The role of the new office will be central in achieving transparency and ultimately ensuring that farmers are getting the best price possible in the market and that their income is maximised.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The only way we can ensure a food ombudsman or any other body will be able to tackle unfair practices within the sector is if we have all the information in the first instance. It is incredible that the Department does not have a definition of "factory feedlot" or of a feedlot in general. We are basing all our information on the controlled finishing units, which serve as a proxy. Even so, we know that 300,000 cattle, or over 15% of the total kill, came from within those units last year. It is inconceivable to suggest they do not have an impact on the prices farmers receive. Therefore, if the people who are paying the farmers and on whom farmers depend, that is, the factories, have sufficient and significant control over the same units, it raises a major issue of accountability and fairness in the system. Will the Minister now ensure a proper analysis of the process?

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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More than that, I will ensure there is a national office set up not just to assess issues such as this but also to ensure transparency right across the food supply chain. I campaigned for this in opposition and ensured it went into the programme for Government. I am now working to deliver as a Minister in the Government. Central to my mission as Minister is doing all I can to support, underpin and enhance farm incomes. Central to that is ensuring farmers are getting the best return possible in the markets they sell into, and central to that is transparency in the food supply chain.

As the Deputy knows, there is ongoing consultation on how to ensure the proposed office will achieve transparency. I want to hear from the Deputy, other Members, farmers, consumers and all stakeholders on how we can ensure the office is as effective and robust as possible in addressing issues such as this. I look forward to the Deputy's submission on this. I welcome his recent conversion to the idea of and principle behind a national food ombudsman or regulator. I look forward to hearing the substance of his ideas on how to make sure the office is as effective as possible.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I assure the Minister that I have always believed in strong regulation of the beef sector but I am sceptical as to whether the office of the food ombudsman will deliver on it. If it does and the Minister passes legislation that will ensure proper accountability and transparency in the sector, not only will I support it but I will also commend the Minister for introducing it.

This issue has an effect on the wider debate on climate action and the environmental impact of beef production. It is entirely unfair to suggest that suckler farmers in the Minister's county or mine somehow need to reduce their production, as is often suggested, when factories own feedlots in which cattle are being concentrated and which undoubtedly have a greater environmental impact. If we are even to suggest a reduction in beef production, which I do not necessarily agree with, I suggest that the first thing to consider is feedlot production. We need to have the full facts. Will be Minister carry out an analysis to determine exactly how prevalent this element of the industry is?

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The idea behind setting up the national food ombudsman office or regulator is to ensure there will be an office in place to assess issues such as this and to ensure all activity in the market and activities that have an impact on the market will be fully delved into and have a light shone on them so we can have the necessary transparency.

I am interested in hearing the Deputy’s developed thoughts and ideas on this, including his definition of a feedlot as opposed to a specialist beef finisher, for example. As he knows, many suckler farmers do not finish their own animals. They are bought and finished by specialists. Some farmers specialise in finishing. There are various degrees and sizes of specialist finishers. A feedlot might be owned by or have a relationship with a factory. I am interested in hearing any ideas the Deputy has in addition to those he is expressing today. The office of the food ombudsman will be ideally placed, when established, to assess this matter and the impact on the market.