Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator White. I would like to continue partially in that tradition because if we take not just County Leitrim but the entire western area and the midlands, which are under the severely disadvantaged scheme, there is nothing else for rural families, particularly with the downturn in our economic circumstances. Sadly, the only option now facing our educated children is to go abroad if they cannot find work here or to go on unemployment assistance, which is putting extra pressure on the Government's budgetary policies.

There was a time when the safety valve of emigration was available but I suggest it is no longer available. The English speaking countries to which the Irish tended to gravitate - England, Canada, America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia - are closing their doors increasingly. It is almost impossible now to get into the United States of America legally, although there are legal options, but it is increasingly difficult. We are faced with a position where we need to sustain rural families and the best way of doing that is to support forward thinking and progressive views on the Common Agricultural Policy.

We hear, on the one hand, that the big challenges for this century will be climate change and food and that there may be food wars over the quantity of food because of burgeoning population, yet, on the other, we have a unique, grassland-based agricultural economy which we seem to be taking steps towards dismantling with questionable policies towards our new European colleagues in eastern Europe where farming technology has yet to catch up. I do not want to go into that area in too much detail other than to say that all of the indications are that we in Ireland have got a very bright future in terms of agriculture. Several statements have been made in that regard both by the farming organisations and the Minister, Deputy Smith, who I compliment on the initiatives he has taken, the public support he continues to give to the Irish farming industry, and the engagement that has taken place between him and the farming organisations with a view to ensuring Ireland's case is strongly fought for in Europe. I want to put that on the record of the House. Media commentators who know nothing about agriculture and would not know one end of a cow from another sometimes make liberal comments about the actions of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as if they were somehow experts in that area.

As recently as today the Minister referred to the Irish beef industry as being the fourth largest beef exporter in the world, with 90% of our output exported. This gives another indication and a wider economic view of the reason this country needs the economic recession to end and consumer confidence internationally to kick-start the world economies because we have to export 85% to 90% of what we produce.

The quote I am about to give is only about the beef industry. I am pleased that at least the milk industry has got a very bright future. Irish grain farmers also have benefited enormously from the increase in world prices this year. I am aware that when one door closes, another opens. The increase is mainly because of the downturn in the wheat harvest in Russia. Speaking at the Beef Expo Ireland 2010 event in Kilkenny, the Minister said:

[M]ore than 5,000 people [are] employed directly in the processing sector, which purchases the output of some 80,000 farmers, and exports a high quality, indigenous Irish product with an annual export value of €1.5 billion. Ireland's future economic growth will be driven by exports of goods and services which will generate jobs directly in the provision of those goods and services.

He also referred to: "a farm sector providing a sound basis for sustaining vibrant rural communities and an indigenous processing industry providing secure employment as well as providing key linkages to a sophisticated international market place".

We are at the cutting edge of the food industry. We have a wonderful name and a great international food brand. I hope the combined efforts of the Government, MEPs and farming organisations will ensure that when the detailed discussions on the CAP commence, as they will do shortly, we will all wear the green jersey and ensure it is not a case of giving free money to farmers but of sustaining and developing the Irish agriculture sector.