Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I start by welcoming to the House a good friend of mine and an active campaigner, Mr. Matthew McGrath, whose campaign about access to beaches I have raised before. He has been very active in this area. It is a privilege to have him here in Leinster House today. I know the view about increasing accessibility, generally, is shared by all within the Seanad.

Following the discussion yesterday regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I wish to raise the impact this will have on global food security. Russia and Ukraine export more than one quarter of the world's wheat. While, in Ireland, we do not import significant quantities from that region, any disruption will have a big impact on global supply chains. When we talk about wheat, in particular, we are talking about basic foodstuffs and bread. We know, because of Brexit, that much flour imported here through the UK is from North American wheat. Rules of origin standards have meant that the WTO tariff is often applied at full whack of €172 per tonne on flour imported through the UK. There are a couple of potential solutions. I have raised before the work of two Wexford brothers, Andrew and Raymond Kavanagh from Ballycarney, who were looking to establish a commercial flour mill in Ireland in order that we are no longer reliant on imports. In the context of the supports being made available under the Brexit adjustment reserve fund, looking at supporting commercial flour mills is useful, but we also need to support our own farmers who are growing quality wheat.

I would like a debate, in a broader context, on food security. This question is linked to the impact on global supply chains. However, if we look at the likely impact of what is happening in Russia and Ukraine will have on other parts of the world, we will see rising grain prices in countries such as Turkey and in the Middle East. Half of the wheat used in Lebanon is imported from Ukraine; 22% in Yemen; 43% in Libya and 14% in Egypt. We all know, because of the tensions that already exist within some of those countries, that to have a situation in which food security arises would be even more concerning. I ask for a debate on food security here in Ireland which also links to the broader questions of the rising cost of living on an international basis.