Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I accept that, one of these farmers had his bull beef ready at approximately 17 months, or close to the margin, in late January but had severe difficulty finding an outlet. It is perhaps a month since I spoke to that young man and the animals may now have been sold. Once one goes beyond 16 months, the demand is less. One goes over 20 months and the price drops. It is a double-edged sword.

I accept that there is no utopian solution and acknowledge that significant strides have been made in the Minister's portfolio covering agriculture and the agrifood industry. Some of this was started by the previous administration but the Minister has been very outgoing on world markets and made contacts in America and China, which I acknowledge. I urge him to continue those contacts in case a nervousness develops in the beef industry which affects the sale of beef, particularly having regard to climate change. We had an appalling spring last year, for which we cannot blame the Minister. We have had a very wet winter and those producing beef are nervous. The difficulty is that there is a knock-on effect on the suckler cow farmer and the sale of calves at marts.

There is merit to our motion, which the Minister acknowledged, and I will call a division on it. I acknowledge the Minister has made progress and I wish him well in his brief. I hope solutions will be found to some of the difficulties farmers face.