Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In anticipation of a later debate on water, I shall not mention it. Senator Comiskey mentioned that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is in China at present. I wish him well and hope he can make progress in broadening markets for Ireland, which clearly needs to be done. Not enough is being done in that regard in the Department, unlike the previous Secretary General who spent much time going around the world trying to broaden the markets available to Ireland.

I wish to refer specifically to the two weeks of talks, which in my view are superficial, that are taking place between the industry, representatives of the Minister and the farm organisations. Our focus has been incorrect in terms of dealing with the beef crisis. We need engagement directly from Government level with the European Commission, specifically with DG Enterprise and Industry and DG Competition, to change the rules that allow companies such as large multiples like Tesco and to a lesser extent large processors in Britain and Ireland to erect barriers to trade and impose anti-fair trade practices which prevent farmers in the South of Ireland from gaining a fair price for their produce. This right is enshrined in Article 39(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and we as a Government, or this Parliament and its Government, have done nothing about enforcing it.

On one hand, it is good to see the Minister broadening our horizons in terms of seeking to open new markets. Engagement between all sectors of the industry is welcome. On the other hand, the talks are superficial window dressing. Both the Government and farming organisations, in terms of their leadership in negotiations with the multiples and processors, have done nothing in real terms to address the incomes of small farmers. I call on the Minister to make himself available to the House as soon as he returns to update us on these talks. I want him to tell us what tangible actions he will undertake to ensure fair trade exists once again on the islands of Britain and Ireland.