Feargal Quinn (Independent)

——they can count on a fairly luxurious cushion to rest on if their business ventures fail. Their up side, if we are to believe this plan, is virtually unlimited. Their down side is extremely limited, because it is guaranteed by the State or Europe. This plan spells out the only viable future for the agrifood industry in Ireland.

I have always believed the sector potentially has a bright future which is why I welcome this plan. We have great natural advantages, acenturies-old tradition in farming and a world reputation as a green and pleasant land which is probably more than we deserve.

It was interesting to hear Senator Scanlon speaking about marketing. I remember going to the United States at the time of the threats of foot-and-mouth disease and BSE and listening to European farmers at a food marketing institute. I spoke about how good Irish meat was. The farmers told me French housewives and customers only wanted to buy French meat and Germans only wanted to buy German meat. They did not want to buy meat from anywhere else. It was not a question of identifying that we had better meat. Let us not fool ourselves that we have done a marvellous job in convincing the rest of the world that Irish meat is better than that which comes from elsewhere.

This is a splendid foundation on which to build a world-class agrifood sector, dedicated to top quality and producing goods fully in line with the tastes and preferences of international customers. An example is the new organisation CAIS, which represents 30 or 40 farmhouse cheese producers. There is virtually no limit to the value we can add to the natural advantages we enjoy.

For the first time in many years, the Minister for Agriculture and Food and my humble self are on the same page.