John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

We must accept that the Fischler proposals will have profound effects on this country, not just farmers – all of Ireland plc is at risk from them. The Minister has expressed his opposition at the Council of Ministers.

The FAPRI projections for the future indicate a reduction of 12% in beef output by 2009 – three times the European average. They indicate a 30% reduction in the number of suckler cows and a 12% drop in the number of breeding ewes. I might be a simplistic farm economist but if these reductions in the numbers of suckler cows and breeding ewes take place, the figure for the reduction in beef output seems conservative. This assumes no change in the multilateral trading framework but we know that will happen.