Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy McConalogue and pay tribute to his proactive work. It feels strange being here in this House considering we meet in mart rings most of the time. The Minister has heard comments and feedback from colleagues and people from the west. His work is very much appreciated. Taking into account the types of farming in the west, this debate is crucial.

The Minister will have heard many farm families ask whether there is a future in agriculture. The young people we met in marts, many of whose parents were with them, spoke about that. We want to get the message across that there is a future in agriculture. There has been strong trade in the recent period. There is talk of prices being kept up because everybody is returning to eating out in restaurants. There will be really good prices for beef in the next period. We know from Bord Bia that record agrifood, food and drink exports have been hit. Exports to Africa have grown by 12% and to south-east Asia by 20%. It is crucial Bord Bia is doing that job of increasing food and drink exports, which will have an impact for farmers.

As Fine Gael spokesperson on research and innovation, my focus is on how we can support farming families with technology to meet these targets. It is involves everything we have done previously. The Minister might comment on funding for that with respect to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, the Walsh fellowships and Science Foundation Ireland. There are joint research programmes with many of our third level universities. We now have Mountbellew Agricultural College, a university campus town as part of the new Atlantic alliance. It was agreed today in committee that the start date for that will be 1 April this year. We hear from Mountbellew Agricultural College that many young farmers are innovating ranging from grassland management to reducing the use of fertiliser to low-emission slurry-spreading. They are learning new practices. They are able to tackle the challenges ahead of us. They will lead the way in the same way as many of our farming families.

On renewable energy, it is important to support farmers to use solar panels, renewable energy on farms and to be able to feed back into the grid. Another issue is how we will reduce costs or challenges we face with fertiliser and fuel costs.

I acknowledge the appointment of the new head of organics in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is crucial there is that focus in the Department. I would also mention the number of signpost farms in organic farming and the question of how will we support families in rural areas to consider engaging in organic farming. There is an interest, particularly among women coming through into farming, in organics and how we can develop that.

The Origin Green programme is crucial. I am not sure if the Minister will have time to answer some of those queries in his response but I acknowledge the work that has been done. I stress that at all time there is such hope for farming families. I really had to get that message across.