Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and his official. It is important that Senators are given an opportunity to raise this matter as it allows the Minister to take note of the many views on the issue being expressed in the House. Beef producers find themselves in a very difficult position. I live on an organic farm producing beef and lamb, which is run by my wife, Mary, and son, Conor. The difficulty with producing organic beef is that we rely entirely on grass and having a good quality product. The Department does not place much emphasis on promoting organic farming, an important, if expensive, side of farming. Changes are needed to address the cost of registration and various other aspects of organic farming. We rear beef and lamb to the finished product on the farm. It is a quality product on which we must secure a return. We do not buy in calves but keep maiden calves and heifers from which we breed. From first-hand experience, I assure the Minister that the costs involved are substantial. He must examine this issue and take whatever steps are required, including engaging with his counterparts in Northern Ireland and Britain.

On the issue of markets, when I was the Minister of State with responsibility for trade I was frequently assigned the task of working with Bord Bia. I recall a particular visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran where I ensured that the Iranian Minister sent veterinary surgeons to Ireland. They visited the Kepak company in Clonee, which coincidentally has a factory in Athleague in County Roscommon. I assured them about the quality of Irish beef because our competitors elsewhere in the European Union, including in France, were arguing that Ireland shared a border with Britain, which was experiencing many animal health problems, including mad cow disease, at the time. I emphasised that we produced the best quality beef in the world.

It is unfortunate that the Minister cannot reply.