Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the future of the beef industry, a topic I have raised previously. There has been great upset and turmoil in the industry in the past six to eight months. Since Christmas, in particular, there has not been a major increase in price. That has been a major issue throughout rural Ireland. The key reason there has been no increase in price is the large number of cattle killed in Ireland. At one stage, 40,000 animals a week were being killed. That is extraordinarily high compared to the numbers usually killed. Traditionally, 20,000 to 30,000 animals were killed. Much of the increase relates to the expansion of the dairy herd, as well as Friesian bull calves coming through the system. Those changes are depressing the price because there is only a certain demand for beef. Unless we move large numbers of Friesian bull calves in the next few weeks, this cycle will continue in two years when those cattle will be finished. We can move more than 80,000 animals a week off of the island using ferry services and hauliers. It needs to be ensure that those animals are moved. There is a market for them in France but there is a problem in Cherbourg with lairage. That problem needs to be examined.

This industry is a key part of rural Ireland. Rural Ireland will slowly die away unless we support the industry. We need a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Deputy Creed. He needs to have a round-table discussion, not particularly with us, but with the transport people, the lairage owners and departmental officials on how the blockage in the system can be removed. That must be done to ensure animals can be transported. The knock-on effect will be to reduce our national herd but also to increase the monetary return to farmers.

There has been a large increase in production following the Food Wise 2025 initiative but profitability at the farm gate has gone in the opposite direction. Farmers are working harder to produce more to earn less. That is not viable. We need a debate on this issue. I appreciate I am over time and I will finish on this. The beef industry is at a crossroads. Without major change, I fear for the state of the industry in three or four years.