Seanad debates

Wednesday, 12 February 2003

Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion.

 

10:30 am

Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

I turn to a matter raised by Senator Quinn, who spoke at some length about support for farming and agriculture, which he described as misguided. That is not the case. Farming, agriculture and good quality food production is supported throughout the world. The United States of America, the great entrepreneur, supports this sector to a greater extent than any other country. I have official figures from international research which show that in the European Union agriculture is supported to the tune of $276 per capita, whereas the equivalent figure in the United States is $338 per capita. The US also introduced a farm Bill last year which considerably enhanced support for agriculture. I make no apology for supporting farming and agriculture.

Senator Quinn also stated that 75% of the European Union budget is spent in support of agriculture. This is also incorrect. Some cursory research before entering the House would have clarified the matter for the Senator. The fact is that 1.5% of GDP in the European Union is spent in supporting agriculture and farming, which amounts to some €41 billion. This is done for good reason and to good effect in supporting multi-functional agriculture and ordinary farming.

Senator Quinn claimed the European Union uses agricultural support to dump products and whinged about the plight of developing countries which, he said, has been caused by the big, bad European Union. The EU is the largest importer of agricultural goods in the world and makes specific allocation for the least developed countries. For example, the EU is the world's largest importer of farm products from developing countries, from which it imports as much as the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand combined. The European Union absorbs some 85% of Africa's agricultural exports and 45% of Latin America's agricultural exports and is the largest importer of agricultural products from the poorest countries.

I express my appreciation to the proposer and seconder of the motion. It is important that both Houses have a calm, deliberate and informed debate on the critical policy issues confronting Irish agriculture in both the European Union and the World Trade Organisation. Following last week's debate in the Dáil, I spoke to a member of the main farming organisation who told me that while he accepted the importance of the debate, it proved depressing due to the dearth of progressive proposals from the Fine Gael Party. The same has been the case in this House.

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