Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister and thank him for giving us his time. He referred to exports and companies such as Kerry Group and Glanbia. I ask him to put more emphasis on indigenous artisan food companies which cannot access credit. Grant aid for such companies is very limited and anything that is made available comes with the caveat that 50% of the funding must be provided by the companies concerned even though they are unable to get the necessary funding from banks. They are unable to complete the cycle for this reason.

The issue of calf imports has been raised with me by a couple of people who fear an outbreak of blue tongue. It would be helpful if the Minister could dismiss such fears.

Young farmers have to be protected within CAP. The hobby farmers mentioned by Senator Ó Clochartaigh, or slippers farmers as I believe they are also known, are the individuals who sit inside looking out at their land while doing nothing to it. Productive farmers will have to be protected, however. Clarity and security are needed in respect of the reference year of 2014 because farmers will not invest if they do not have confidence in their future. As the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Ciolos, was a rural development officer in his former life, Pillar II will be very important to him. The Minister will have a tough fight on his hands but I have every confidence in him.

The only question on forestry concerns unenclosed land. The issue of acid sensitive areas has been addressed in Sweden and it can be managed here with further science. I commend the Minister on the issue of forestry. His ministerial colleagues want to know how he managed to juggle the figures for the budget because he did an excellent job.