Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

As I am sure it will be on Twitter later on, I offer my apologies. I was struck by the comment in the Minister's speech that fair does not mean equal. In closing, he said: "[W]e have a long way to go before we arrive at a conclusion to these negotiations", and he is right. I urge the Government to use the phrase famously used by the former Minister for Agriculture, Austin Deasy, when he said there must be no capitulation. Ireland cannot capitulate when it comes to the CAP.

Senator Carty spoke about various issues in agriculture. Last year, 2009, was a desperate year for farmers, with bad weather and falls in prices and incomes, although I am glad to say that this year has seen some recovery. We have seen a complete change in the development of agriculture in this country. Despite the cost of living, farm incomes have declined. Diversification has become the norm in agriculture, and more people are becoming dependent on jobs off the farm, which is regrettable. Senator Carty also mentioned the importance of the REP scheme and the role it played in rural Ireland, and he was right.

A question that must be dealt with by the Minister and on whose answer there must be no obfuscation is whether we want cheap food or food security. This issue was mentioned by Senators Carty and Bradford and is related to the debate on traceability and South American beef. We must protect Irish consumers and farmers. The discussions on the CAP are probably the most important we will ever have in an agricultural context. All Members agree, I hope, that a strong Common Agricultural Policy is critical in ensuring the consumers of Ireland and of the EU have confidence in the produce they are buying. We must strike a balance to ensure the economic future of our farmers in areas such as Ballygarvan, Crosshaven, Minane Bridge and Ballinhassig in Cork South-Central, as well as Mayo, Galway and other counties, is assured. That is why it is important a fair and stable income is ensured for farmers in all these areas under the CAP.

During the recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Andrew Doyle stated that Ireland needs to export 80% of what it produces and that the industry supports 250,000 jobs, which is a very large number. That is the context in which this debate and the wider debate on the CAP takes place. It would be wrong to focus on the CAP as primarily an issue for farmers, although it is. It also deals with climate change, animal welfare, environmental protection, and the economic development of our country. Senators Carty and Ó Brolcháin will not agree with me on this but Government policy has let down rural Ireland, and that needs to be addressed.

Senator Bradford spoke about the issue of food supplies and the elimination of food shortages. We must protect the quality of the food we produce and sell to consumers. I would love to have a wider debate on the issue of food quality. We can have a consensus, to use a word we have heard many times in the House today, on this decision.