Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State on his first visit to the Seanad in his new role. As a good friend, I compliment and congratulate him on his appointment. I know that the agrifood sector is in safe hands and that the Minister of State will not be found wanting. This sector is and has been a good news story. The proof of this was no more evident than in the most recent downturn. When the economy was on its knees, it was this sector and the exports from this sector across the world that got this country back up and running so we cannot be complacent and we cannot take our eye off the ball.

As the Minister of State rightly pointed out in his opening statement, we are in a very volatile position with the geopolitical landscape, potential trade wars and potential tariffs from the US, which is such a major customer, and the knock-on effect of this across the globe so we have to keep our eye on the ball. I know the Minister of State has a large body of work to do in this regard. If we can maintain the current situation, depending on how things work out with the US and the tariffs, it will probably be a good day's work. I compliment the Minister of State on that and on how he has hit the ground running in his new position along with the Minister, who was in Japan last week opening up new markets there, and the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who was in Barcelona. While I am from Kilbeggan in County Westmeath, and one will probably not get a more central area of the country, it is important that we include fisheries when we discuss food exports and new markets here today because it is an integral part of the economies of communities along the coast and I am very much aware of that.

Being from Kilbeggan where Kilbeggan whiskey is made, I have a significant interest in the recent progress in and the advancement of our exports in that area. I would emphasise the primary producer. While it is a good news story for the industry, it can be top heavy with the producer and exporter sides and the industry side. A rising tide does not necessarily lift all boats. It may not be as rosy in the garden for the primary producer and the farmer. The Irish whiskey market is a point in case. We have a struggling tillage sector. Irish drinks, including Irish whiskey, are flying all over the world yet the tillage farmer is struggling to get a decent price for his tonne of malt and barley so we cannot leave the primary producer behind.

It is the same with the beef sector. I am not being negative but I am duty bound to represent the grassroots for want of a better word. There is serious frustration among beef farmers when it comes to what is known as the fifth quarter, particularly when we read that we are exporting €126 million worth of offal product, which is the fifth quarter. The farmer brings his animals to the factory and that is all cut away and pushed to one side before the carcass is weighed on which he is paid by the kilogram. Then we read about €126 million in exports. One can see how farmers would be frustrated.

While what is probably the biggest and most important export market that is beneficial right to the farm gate, namely live exports, may not be under the remit of the Minister of State, it should be. This is going to be serious bone of contention. I am a big supporter of live exports. It is what keeps the beef industry honest for want of a better word. There are major issues with animal welfare standards. I am a promoter of live exports to the highest standard of animal welfare. We are an island nation. It is easy for the authorities in continental Europe to bring in laws and regulations that will impede our ability to export our animals on the hoof. They are in continental Europe and we are an island nation, and that has to be taken into consideration. Leaving aside processed beef, it is vitally important that the Minister of State keep his eye on the ball when it comes to the live export trade. It is the rock on which the Irish beef industry is built. We cannot talk about foreign markets and exports without mentioning trade deals. The one that is on the tip of everybody's tongue at the moment is the Mercosur trade deal. Some people stand up and say they are opposed to the Mercosur trade deal. We are an open economy. The Minister of State spent ten minutes reading out a list of the things we export around the world and the amount of money we make. Without trade deals, we would be nowhere. I am pro-trade deal but I am opposed to the Mercosur trade deal in its current format. I am not opposed to the deal in general; I am opposed to it in its current format, particularly if we are going to start bringing in beef from flattened rainforests in Brazil, Argentina and places like that.

Bord Bia deserves mention here today. It is doing a fantastic job around the world. I went on a couple of trips and was lucky enough to attend presentations the board put on with hoteliers and chefs from restaurants to promote Irish beef, lamb and so on. It is doing a fantastic job. It is promoting Origin Green, the sustainable method by which we produce our lamb, beef and pork. It would be totally contradictory to allow the importation of hormone-treated beef into our market, replacing some of our contracts and markets. It is that element of the Mercosur deal I am opposed to. I hope the Minister of State will bring that with him from here.

In our roles on the agriculture committee, Senator Boyhan and I were very actively involved in the introduction of An Rialálaí Agraibhia, the food regulator, which I welcome. I welcome the commitment in the programme for Government to enhance and increase that regulator's powers. I hope that is followed through on because it is a vital cog in making sure the primary producer, the farmer, is not forgotten and gets his fair share from the success story that is our food production and food exports.

The protected geographical indication, PGI, was another positive during the term of the last Government. It opens up a lot of markets for us. I compliment those who were involved in securing that at the European level. I have no doubt but that we will have to keep updating things for that indication but it is vitally important that we hold onto it.

I again welcome developments between the EU and the UK. As the Minister of State said in his opening statement, we will keep a close eye on the development of the SPS agreement. It is vitally important. Before Brexit, we were dependent on the UK market. During the whole Brexit debate, all the talk was about whether we could survive with a changed UK market. We have survived but the numbers are dropping every year. It could get worse so we need to keep a close eye on the trade the UK is now doing around the world as a result of being outside the EU Common Market. This development in recent weeks is very positive. The Minister of State will have a role in bringing it to fruition. As he said in his opening statement, we have to keep a very close eye on the SPS agreement but this is to be welcomed.

It is all very positive. I will finish where I started and say that we have to keep our eye on the ball. It is a volatile market and what happens in the relationship between the EU as a whole and America will be a vital input into the success or otherwise of this sector. To go back to Kilbeggan again, the idea of high tariffs on the Irish drinks sector, including whiskey, has been thrown about a lot. That could be detrimental.