Ian Marshall (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge and address the national farm survey statistics published by Teagasc last night. I am pleased to note that the average farm income has increased by 32% to slightly more than €31,000. The dairy sector, in which income has increased by 65%, is the major contributor. Incomes in tillage have increased by 20% and incomes in sheep farming are up by 8%. While this is good news, it must be treated with care because average figures can be deceiving. Someone once told me that the best description of an average is a person whose feet are in the freezer and whose head is in the oven because while his body temperature may be average, he will be dying.

Subsidies and support from the European Union account for 56% of farm income, which is a substantial portion of the revenue of farmers. As all of us know, dairy fortunes are market driven and the increase in dairy incomes is a reaction to a deficit in the market for dairy produce. If we remove dairy incomes from the equation, the average income for farm businesses stands at approximately €20,000, with a beef unit averaging between €12.500 and €16,000, which is not a large amount of money with which to raise a family. The current position is not sustainable. We must be mindful that in isolation and without support mechanisms, agriculture would not be sustainable. We must also bear in mind that the success of the sector will be key to the success of the country. It needs investment, including support for research and development, innovation and education as these will be critical if we are to professionalise the industry and make it fit for purpose, fit for the future and sustainable. It would be dangerous to be complacent based on the Teagasc figures. We must, therefore, avoid complacency.

It would be a major mistake to reduce pressure to provide support for the agriculture industry. We must maintain this pressure, invest for the future and support the areas to which I referred. Marketing of the food produced on the island of Ireland will be key to this success. We should also bear in mind that yesterday's figures were produced against the backdrop of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. We must not be misled by one set of encouraging figures for the agrifood industry and farming because serious concerns remain. We must all put our shoulder to the wheel to ensure agriculture is supported, profitable and sustainable.