Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister and I congratulate him on protecting the agricultural community in the budget. When quotas, especially milk quotas, are abolished in 2015, milk could become the driving force in the agriculture industry and with more farmers going into milk production, we may experience a major drop in the beef herd, suckler herd and sheep flock. Will he put measures in place to ensure meat production is maintained?

The health committee debated below cost selling of alcohol, particularly in supermarkets, earlier this week. However, it costs approximately €158 per tonne to grow potatoes whereas the price in shops equates to €130 per tonne because the three major retailers control 80% of the market. Some farmers are accepting €70 a tonne in order that they will not have to store potatoes. This is not sustainable. Will the Minister put measures in place to protect potato growers?

I do not agree with Senators Comiskey and Ó Clochartaigh regarding the flat rate payment. I agree with the Minister that if we are to push on with production under Food Harvest 2020, it has to be done on productive land and a flat rate payment would not suit. I wish him all the best in the CAP negotiations over the next year and I am sure he will do a good job. He knows his brief and he will make sure to defend the agriculture industry.