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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Dec 2011

Vol. 750 No. 1

Other Questions

We now move to other questions and the same arrangements apply, with six minutes overall per question.

Farm Safety

Heather Humphreys

Question:

6 Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives he has undertaken to improve farm safety awareness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38955/11]

At this point in 2011 there have been 25 fatalities recorded in the agriculture sector. This figure constitutes half of all workplace fatalities, 52, for 2010 which unfortunately follows the trend seen in 2010, when 26 people lost their lives in agriculture as a result of a farming accident. Therefore, 6% to 7% of the working population had to deal with the tragedy of half of all workplace fatalities. That is the situation in agriculture at present. It is shocking, and we all have a responsibility to do something about it.

In June, I provided the opening address at the National Farm Safety Conference, the theme of which was livestock safety — one of the main causes of farm fatalities in Ireland after tractors and machinery related incidents. In July, I launched the "Family Farm and Countryside Safety Week" at Dublin Zoo at the request of Agri Aware. In August, I gave the opening address at the annual international meeting on agricultural occupational health and safety, held in Dublin, which was a really good conference. In September, I contributed a short journalistic piece to the farm health and safety supplement in the Irish Farmers' Journal. The purpose of that article was to promote an increased awareness of farm safety and to focus, in particular, on the need to change farming attitudes, which I believe is a key issue in farm safety.

In September also, I attended the National Ploughing Championships in Athy where I visited and gave my support to the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, stand. Ultimately, this is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Authority but from an agricultural point of view there is also a broad farm safety partnership advisory committee, involving a series of farm groups and stakeholders, which puts a huge amount of work into this. In October, my Department, represented by Dr. Dave Beehan, chief inspector, along with other stakeholders, met with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, at this Department to discuss farm safety and explore ways in which we can all play our part in improving farm safety. The Minister has indicated a follow-up meeting for early 2012.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

I firmly believe that the key to reducing fatalities and accidents on Irish farms lies in bringing about a change in the way we think about safety on Irish farms. The key to bringing about that cultural change lies in increasing the awareness of safety issues among farmers. I have taken every opportunity afforded me to promote farm safety awareness and will continue to do so. My Department is strongly committed to assisting the HSA in promoting farm safety initiatives. It is represented on the farm safety partnership advisory committee, FSPAC, which reports regularly to the board of the HSA.

Farm safety concerns are an integral part of all farm buildings specifications drawn up by my Department and farm safety has comprised part of the training for many schemes, including the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, and the dairy efficiency programme. There is a dedicated farm safety area on my Department's website home page. Teagasc has been very active in providing farm safety training to farmers and farm advisers nationwide. My Department and I will continue to work closely with the HSA, the FSPAC, Teagasc and others towards achieving a reduction in fatalities and accidents on Irish farms.

This is a very important issue and I commend the Minister on his work and on taking a proactive stance to ensure that awareness of farm safety is raised. I also compliment the Health and Safety Authority which is rolling out its new safety campaign in an effort to reduce the high number of farm deaths in Ireland. Its press release is very effective in that it shows a farmer who has lost his arm as a result of an accident. The sad thing about many of these accidents is that they are easily avoidable. In many cases, people have been farming for a lifetime and there is almost a sense of complacency in how they approach handling livestock. It is important to stress that the temperament of animals can often change suddenly and without warning, and this can result in tragedy. Will the Minister share his views on what he believes is the best way to get the message across to a generation of older farmers? Everybody knows it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

The key issue here is to get people to change their attitude. Farm safety is not like workplace safety in a factory or an office. A farm is a person's land and their home. Farmers often farm alone; 14 and 15 year olds often drive huge machinery around farmyards and across fields. They might have to hitch up trailers containing 25 to 30 tonnes of grain. Farms are family operations and we must change the attitudes in farm families towards farm safety.

When I spoke at the Women and Agriculture Conference I challenged the women. Women, mothers and wives, in particular, need to challenge the rest of their families on safety issues because often, and this is a gross generalisation, male farmers are too casual about this issue. They need to be challenged within the family and that is the most effective way to do it. We need promotional campaigns around that. The number of safety inspections on farms by the HSA this year has increased but this problem will not be resolved with a stick and inspections. It will only be solved with an attitudinal change.

Today, the Health and Safety Authority has launched a new advertising campaign which is quite dramatic in terms of reminding people about the dangers of farm machinery and livestock in particular. I commend the authority on that and I will do anything I can within the Department to add to it.

Has the Minister looked at how other countries have addressed this? As somebody who lives on a farm, I am fully aware that the farm work continues throughout the festive season. Unlike the rest of us farmers do not get a day off. They are often rushing and may take shortcuts to finish their work early to join the festivities with their families. I would like to impress upon them the need to be vigilant and aware of the very real and daily dangers in their workplaces.

People might be surprised to hear other countries have just as bad a record as we have. Ireland is not in the bottom tier of the European Union in terms of accidents on farms. Some countries, particularly Scandinavian countries, have been very successful in dealing with the issue. If one compares the rate of accidents on construction sites per capita — the numbers are down because there are fewer people working on construction sites — one finds the ratio has decreased. We have made a significant impact in other areas from a workplace safety point of view. However little or no impact has been made on agriculture. We are better than a lot of other countries in the European Union but are still not good enough. Farmers and farming organisations need and are trying to take a lead on the injuries and mutilations that take place because of accidents on farms.

I acknowledge the efforts and buy-in of farming organisations. The previous Minister, Brendan Smith, and Deputy Calleary led on this issue in 2010. The Minister has taken a proactive stance in his statements. How closely are the Department and the HSA working together? The HSA has a programme.

This summer two neighbours of mine lost their lives in farm accidents, which was a tragedy. It is very important that there is a clear signal from everybody involved in agriculture, from farming organisations to the Department, the HSA and anybody that can further the cause. Departments often work on an individual basis. We need to make sure the Department and the HSA are working very closely together.

As the Deputy knows the HSA is under the remit of the Department of the Minister, Deputy Bruton. We have linked in with it in a very serious way. It is also part of the farm partnership response to safety and is working with farm organisations and a series of other stakeholders. The impression I got from the various conferences it held this year and the supportive advertising campaign it is starting is that the HSA is very serious about farm safety because of the extraordinary dominance of the agricultural sector in terms of the current levels of tragedy.

If one puts the rest of my Department's responsibility into the figures from the point of view of fishing and forestry, they are even worse. Farming, fishing and forestry are dangerous livelihoods and we do not have sufficient understanding within those industries of the response needed to make a significant impact on these figures. Everyone is now working towards that, including the HSA and farm organisations.

Marine Industry

John McGuinness

Question:

7 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timescale for his proposals being published; if he will give an understanding that the future management arrangements will be fair to all existing participants in the fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39819/11]

I understand the Deputy is referring to the review of herring stocks management arrangements. Earlier this year I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the north-west coast and the Atlanto-Scandian stock.

For 2011, Ireland has a quota of 11,407 tonnes for Celtic Sea herring which represents 86% of the total allowable catch, TAC. A Celtic Sea herring management advisory committee, comprising representatives of the fishing and processing industry, has been in place for a number of years to advise the Minister on the management arrangements for the stock.

The stock was in decline with a TAC of 6,000 tonnes set for 2009. The advisory committee brought forward a rebuilding plan for the stock which was endorsed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, ICES, and its implementation has seen a significant stock recovery. The EU Commission has proposed a 60% increase in the TAC for 2012. However, the advisory committee, which has been hugely responsible on this issue, and the Marine Institute are recommending an increase of just 30% to ensure this stock is not over exploited and recovery beds in.

The herring fishery in the north west involves two stocks with combined quotas of 7,333 tonnes for 2011. Ireland has 91% of the southern stock and a 15% share of the stock off Scotland. The scientific advice for the southern stock is that the landings should be reduced and the EU Commission has proposed a cut of 25%. A rebuilding plan for the stock submitted through the regional advisory council for pelagic stocks to the EU Commission by the Irish industry was considered not to be precautionary. Further work on this important initiative by the Irish industry will be necessary in order to put in place a long-term rebuilding plan for this important stock.

In terms of management of the herring stock, we will come forward with proposals to the industry after the consultation process within the coming weeks.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The Altanto-Scandian herring stock is fished in the waters off Norway. Ireland's quota for 2011 is 5,705 tonnes. Ireland has access to a maximum of nine licences each year for this stock.

Under current policy, access to herring fisheries is open to all vessels in the dedicated pelagic segment of the fleet, large polyvalent vessels which are permitted to target herring, based on a history in the pelagic fisheries, and all polyvalent vessels under 19.81 m. Over the past few years there has been increased interest in participation in these fisheries and this had led to concern from those with a history in the fisheries for restriction on access to the fisheries.

In response to my notification of the review, a number of proposals were received from industry, many offering conflicting views, particularly in regard to the need to ring-fence the fisheries. Taking account of the views expressed I am currently examining a number of options for new management arrangements. I plan to make these proposals available to industry representatives for views shortly before making a final decision on the management arrangements for 2012 herring fisheries.

Some fishermen have contacted me to ask when the proposals will be ready. I welcome the comments of the Minister that they will be ready within the coming weeks and thank him.

We hope to return to the industry with my preferred option. Given the submissions on this issue it is impossible to keep everybody happy. Some people are diametrically opposed. Some want stocks to be managed on the basis that only people with a track record will have access to stock quota but others want full access for everybody.

I will have to make a judgment call on that, which will happen within days. When I do that we will send a proposal to the industry for further consultation. We will then have a round table discussion involving everybody and I will have to make a decision. That process has to happen quickly in order that we have a management structure in place for next year.

Food Industry

Martin Heydon

Question:

8 Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that the targets set out in the food harvest strategy can be achieved by 2020; the effects that the recent budget announcements will have on these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/11]

Dara Murphy

Question:

14 Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the targets agreed in Food Harvest 2020; the effect that changes made in budget 2012 may have on Food Harvest 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38951/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 14 together.

This about making Food Harvest 2020 happen and what we are doing to make the ambitious targets a reality. Food Harvest 2020, which I always acknowledge was originally put in place by the previous Government and which I have taken on and intend to implement in full, plans to achieve export targets of €12 billion by 2020, which is a 42% increase on the starting point. It also plans to improve the value added of the sector by €3 billion and increase the value of primary output of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors by €1.5 billion.

In terms of growth, the targets include a 50% in volume increase in the dairy sector between 2015 and 2020, a 40% increase in the value of beef exports, a 50% rise in the pigmeat output, a 20% increase in sheepmeat output and an increase of 78% in aquaculture output. They are all huge growth figures and some of them underestimate what will be achieved by 2020.

Despite all the cutbacks in the budget we have done some strategic things to help us reach our targets, such as tax incentives to encourage farm partnerships so we can try to introduce economies of scale to farming. Farmers could farm collectively with their neighbours and share things such as the costs of machinery and input, slurry storage and grazing management. They could potentially collectively sell their produce and achieve the kind of scale to help them get a better price. They can share skill sets and so on. The partnership model is new and exciting.

We have dramatically reduced stamp duty, to 2%, on all commercial and agricultural land transactions, and to 1% where the transaction either occurs within a family or involves a relative. In addition, we have set aside €5 million for a beef discussion group which will help to upskill beef farmers. We have re-opened the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, in order to provide grant aid to farmers to upgrade farm yards, whether milking machinery, equipment to manage sheep or suckler cattle and so on.

These measures comprise a series of positive, strategic developments which are about improving productivity and encouraging a transfer to a new generation of farmers through the tax system. I have never heard a Budget Statement which included so many mentions of agriculture, agrifood and farming as did last Tuesday's announcement by the Minister for Finance. That is because we are all excited about the potential that exists in the sector. The Food Harvest 2020 targets are achievable if there is proper planning.

I congratulate the Minister on the agricultural aspect of the budget. It is quite an achievement that despite a reduction of some €105 million in the allocation for his Department, there is broad acceptance that the budget included many positive aspects from an agricultural perspective. That deserves recognition. The stamp duty reduction and the retention of the half rate with a sunset clause until the end of 2014 will encourage those who are in the process of making decisions to move forward. In addition, the protection of the 90% agricultural relief and the suckler welfare scheme are very welcome.

I see great merit in encouraging farming partnerships, which offer many positive benefits. However, we must also be cognisant of the pitfalls that may arise in this regard. While such arrangements are no different from any business in some ways, we are all aware of situations where arguments have arisen within families over wills and so on. When land is involved, such matters can get messy. The Minister referred to machinery, but we could end up seeing family homes form part of such arrangements. There may be a role for Teagasc in this regard. Above all, we must ensure that farmers, particularly young farmers, who enter into such partnerships are given adequate advice and that the potential pitfalls are highlighted. It is important that there be an exit strategy. These issues must be given proper consideration and people must understand that life may change in the coming years, thus making a partnership model potentially less beneficial.

Deputy Heydon makes a fair point. I am not pretending there is some type of miracle solution to introduce economies of scale into Irish farming. What we are essentially trying to do is to keep intact the family farm ownership structure that prevails in rural areas. I am very wedded to that system; the heartbeat of rural Ireland is family ownership of farms. At the same time, we can improve the business of farming for many people by improving efficiencies and skill sets on farms.

Farming in partnership assists that if it is done properly. It must be a legal partnership without get-out clauses. Partnerships are normally put in place for five or seven years. Anybody entering into a partnership must be cognisant that they are signing up to a significant legal commitment. The positive aspects of that are clear from a commercial point of view, but account must also be taken of any negatives. That is why I am asking Teagasc to put in place several partnership pilot projects next year, with varying levels of partnership integration, so farmers can see them working in a practical way before jumping into a partnership themselves. I am hopeful that the new stock relief measures to encourage farmers to consider partnerships will result in a large number of families sitting around the table and discussing whether they want to go into business with their neighbours in a manner beneficial to all parties.

I welcome the taxation measures announced in budget 2012. Does the Minister envisage further specific measures in the budgets for 2013 and 2014 to encourage farming as a career for young people, stimulate land sales and transfers and offer further encouragement regarding enterprise opportunities in farming?

I got almost everything I asked for from the Department of Finance in this budget. The Minister, Deputy Michael Noonan, and his team have shown a great willingness to respond to my Department's efforts to make farming more dynamic in terms of the business of farming and the productivity thereof. However, there is always more to do. For example, I would like to see more incentives to consolidate farm land. There was a consolidation relief in place until last summer. Unfortunately, it was little availed of, which was the main reason for its abolition, but it may be reconsidered in the future. We may examine it in the run-up to the Finance Bill.

For next year we will continue to look at the measures currently in place and how they can be further enhanced. The budget has done a significant amount to reshape the system, particularly in terms of reforming the land mobility market in order to get land moving. I often point out that the average field in Ireland is sold once every 400 years, while the average field in France is sold once every 70 years. That is because land remains in the ownership of families in an intergenerational way in Ireland. There is almost an obsession with land ownership. That is an issue we are seeking to address in this budget.

There are changes to the qualification criteria for the disadvantaged area scheme in terms of the proviso regarding approximately two sheep per hectare. I support this as a means of ensuring the money goes to genuine farmers rather than hobby farmers. However, there must be some criteria other than simply the numeric capacity of the land. There will be genuine cases of farming families who cannot reach the required stocking levels for the six-month period to which the Minister referred. I ask the Minister to consider putting in place a mechanism to accommodate such people.

As the Minister is about to depart for negotiations in Europe, it would be remiss of me not to wish him and his negotiating team the very best. They have our good wishes and support as they depart.

I am pleased the Deputy raised the issue of the disadvantaged areas scheme, DAS, which I meant to return to in response to Deputy Moynihan's earlier question. We are building an appeals mechanism into the qualification criteria for DAS in order to take account of cases where there is a genuine reason for a low stocking rate. In such instances, people will be able to appeal a decision and offer an explanation for the low stocking rate. There will be a flexibility there to make an exception in genuine cases. Such circumstances could arise where, for example, there is a death in a family, where somebody is taking over a farm or where freak weather conditions mean that stock cannot be kept on the land for more than three months. In addition, anybody who has a very low stocking rate as a consequence of participation in a commonage framework programme or some other environmental restrictions will retain their payments. In all cases where there are genuine grounds for a reconsideration of a negative decision, there will be recourse to an appeals mechanism. That will be put in place early in the new year. I want to ensure that genuine, practical farmers who are trying to farm in a way that is productive within disadvantaged areas do not lose their payments.

Unfortunately, I must leave now in order to travel to Brussels. I thank Deputy Colreavy for his good wishes in that regard. I followed quota and total allowable catch, TAC, negotiations each December during my time in opposition because I have been interested in fishing for a long time. I always wondered about the adrenalin rush of being a Minister representing a big industry. I am looking forward to that challenge in the next few days and I assure the Deputy we will be in close contact with the industry during that process.

Milk Quota

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

9 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has raised the issue of a European-wide milk quota in recent meetings with EU Agriculture Ministers; the steps he has taken in securing a butterfat correction quota increase of 1.5% and 2%; if he has specifically discussed the issue on a bilateral basis with any other EU Agriculture Minister; if so, when and with whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39813/11]

The Department has continued to be very active in recent months in raising the question of an adjustment to the milk quota regime at political and official level and at Commission level, in a determined effort to secure a soft landing for all member states in the lead-up to the milk quota abolition in 2015.

Among the options discussed regarding a soft landing are the front-loading of the remaining quota increases, a reduction in the super levy, a further reduction in butterfat correction levels or a kind of EU flexi-milk arrangement which would operate, provided EU production overall was within quota. Most attention has been focused on the butterfat correction and in recent weeks a coalition of member states involving Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Cyprus, has formally put a specific proposal to the special committee for agriculture for an adjustment to the butterfat correction mechanism.

Unfortunately, the Commission has consistently resisted attempts to reconsider this issue, as it has resisted attempts to revisit the outcome of the 2008 CAP health check agreement in an overall sense. This is a view which is supported by a number of member states, some of whom are firmly against any further adjustment to the health check agreement. It is also the case that only a minority of member states is likely to be adversely affected by the current quota restrictions and therefore persuading a qualified majority to agree to an adjustment of the current regime represents a significant challenge. There are currently no signs of a breakthrough in this regard.

With a super levy being an increasing likelihood as we head towards quota abolition, all dairy farmers must carefully plan their production activities and pay close attention to the limitations imposed by the quota regime if they are to avoid potential super levy fines.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have raised the point on many occasions in the past months. I refer to the targets in Food Harvest 2020. Only for the quota there would have been an increase in milk production this year by 20% to 25% because of the volumes of milk produced. Farmers have made significant efforts since July to pull back on milk production.

There was some hope held out over the past months on the butterfat quota. What is the likelihood of further negotiations early in the new year with the Commissioner and the Ministers for Agriculture in other member states to discuss the front-loading of the butterfat adjustment? This would alleviate a very serious problem which will arise on 31 March 2012.

As the Deputy said, there has been frustration in the farming community earlier in the year, last April, May and June, when many young farmers were badly caught. They had been told to go into milk production and were given grants and advice but halfway through the summer they had no quota left. They were given no relief of any description. At that stage when everybody was lobbying, only two or three countries had joined with Ireland in seeking a solution. However, I note a list of countries have joined that lobby and it is crucial that both our MEPs and all politicians, regardless of party, fight that case. There is a massive world-wide demand for milk products and Ireland is in a position to produce them. It is a great shame even for the EU to be losing out on revenue at a time when most countries are suffering economically. We have to pick up this issue on 1 January and make a strong argument. Butterfat seems to be the main issue.

The new Presidency of the European Union will begin in January and this might create the possibility of some light at the end of the tunnel.

One would always hope for light at the end of the tunnel but I do not think farmers can take anything for granted. Many farmers have decided to dry up cows and to fatten them. Anyone who has ever received a super levy bill will never get a second one. The Deputy is correct that from 1 January 2012 we should join forces with as many countries as possible to pursue the matter in the interests of production.

In my discussions with people in the Northern Ireland Assembly I find there is a deep understanding and appreciation of the Government's concerns about the milk quota. I find it difficult to understand why we do not deal with the milk quota issue on an all-island basis and why we should not be able to secure some concessions very quickly for the whole island.

The Border exists and this has created some loopholes in regulations. However, the rules are very strict. The farmers in Northern Ireland avail of the scarcity of milk in England and they perhaps would not appreciate us swallowing up everything. I understand why the Deputy asks that question. It seems a disgrace that there is a scarcity of milk across the water in England while we are not allowed produce it here. Rules are rules but we have to work together.

Aquaculture Development

Jim Daly

Question:

10 Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives included in budget 2012 in order to retain and create jobs within coastal communities with particular regard to deep-sea fish farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38948/11]

Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, has been tasked to work with the Marine Institute to investigate suitable sites for the development of finfish aquaculture in deeper waters outside NATURA 2000 sites. This process of investigation is taking place at no extra cost to the State. It is expected that BIM will submit a licence application for a suitable site early in 2012 and if granted, will source a major commercial investor to develop the site.

This initiative will serve to develop finfish farming to a sustainable commercial level while maintaining the highest protection for the environment. It is estimated that just one of these production areas could generate 350 direct jobs while a further 150 jobs will be created indirectly in the service sector. BIM is also exploring other areas off the west coast for suitable sites.

I thank the Minister of State and I welcome his commitment to this important project. I commend the actions and efforts of BIM and the Marine Institute in the development of the project. It is very encouraging that State agencies are working together in harmony and productively. I note the entrepreneurial spirit, which is not always present.

This project offers significant potential and I am aware of the site in Galway. It is hoped to apply for a licence in January. This one site offers the potential to double the country's quota of salmon production. A number of other sites are being actively investigated. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been passionate in his enthusiasm for this project. I am from Clonakilty and I am well aware of BIM's efforts and work on this project. I commend all concerned. I have no further questions as I am satisfied with the reply.

Common Agricultural Policy

Seán Crowe

Question:

11 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that Ireland is in a position to fully avail of increased EU support as indicated in the draft Common Agricultural Policy proposals for agricultural research and development and for encouraging younger farmers into the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39058/11]

The proposals to amend the CAP were published last October and comprise three broad strands relating to pillar 1, direct payment to farmers and pillar 2, rural development and market supports. In the case of rural development the Commission has indicated its intention to focus on certain key areas and this includes support for innovation and young farmers. I am very pleased that these provisions have been included as they provide broad scope for support to these areas. Business start-up aid is proposed for young farmers on the basis of a business plan and rates of support are generous. Higher rates of support are also proposed for young farmers under the investment measure and on-farm investment will be one of my priority areas under the reformed CAP. It is important that we support our young farmers and encourage structural change so we will be looking at the possibilities presented to support young farmers in both the first and second pillars of the CAP.

Aside from the specific CAP reform proposals within the proposed EU budget under the next multi-annual financial framework, €4.5 billion will be made available to support research and innovation on food security, the bio-economy and sustainable agriculture. While it is not fully clear how these funds will be distributed, it is clear there will be a strengthening of the links between research and the activities funded under the CAP. In this regard, Horizon 2020, the successor to the seventh EU framework programme on research and development which is currently being finalised, will address a number of societal challenges, the most relevantbeing food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and the bio-economy.

The Department acts as the national delegate and the national contact point for the current agriculture-related research activities funded under FP7 and will continue to do so until FP7 ends in January 2014. It is likely that the current co-ordinated national support network of which the Department is a party, will be continued for Horizon 2020 to support our research community in leveraging funds from the Horizon 2020 programme. To date, Irish researchers have been very successful in leveraging funding from the FP7 programme under the food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnology thematic area which is most relevant to the agrifood sector. To date, Ireland has drawn down almost 2% of the available budget. In the last call under FP7, Ireland leveraged €6 million of EU funding to support Irish researchers to develop capacity to support the agrifood sector.

Sinn Féin would welcome any further supports aimed at increasing participation in agriculture among young people and enhancing research and development activity. We would also welcome the prospect of foreign partnerships, as announced in the budget. We cannot wait for others to suggest alternatives for our consideration. The Department must be proactive and produce a road map setting out the direction in which agriculture should move, the areas we wish to support and the means by which our objectives will be achieved. The greatest risk facing us is that opportunities will be lost. Unless the Government and Oireachtas take a proactive approach and set out a vision and road map, the opportunities will pass us by. We must not spend the moneys that are available on management consultant reports which will not create a single job or, worse still, fail to expend them, which would require us to return them.

I agree with the Deputy on many issues. As a farmer, I experienced the 1970s and 1980s when Ireland entered mass production. I am trying to get the media to latch on to what we are in a position to achieve by 2015 or 2020. The door is open for Ireland to mass produce safe food. As the Deputy correctly noted, we could lose everything if we do not avail of research opportunities. I toured the Teagasc research centre in Grange, County Meath, yesterday where I was delighted to see so much effort being invested in new research and technology. We were shown an example of an animal which was able, for genetic reasons, to achieve the same weight gain as an identical animal with 20% less feed. Research is being done in Grange and elsewhere and our agricultural colleges are attracting large numbers of students. The Dáil needs to hold a serious debate on the scale of production that could be achieve here as well as the potential for job creation in the agricultural sector, whether in farming, research, dairy and beef equipment, sales, science parks and so forth. The process has started already. When I return home at weekends I often wonder what world I am in because rural life has changed so much. As spray dealers and the owners of hardware stores will tell one, farmers are the only people who are in a position to pay their way at present.

I enjoyed spending an evening in Deputy Colreavy's constituency recently. I saw how young people entering horticulture are receiving an education through a programme that is affiliated to the Institute of Technology Sligo. Some of those leaving our colleges do not know how to hold a shovel and would break its handle rather than use it. It is great, therefore, that the facility in County Leitrim is attached to the institute of technology.

The agriculture sector has been at the forefront of innovative ideas and research and development for years. I refer specifically to work done in the Department, the national advisory training body, ACOT, and Teagasc. As the Minister of State noted, significant research and development is being done at the Teagasc research centres in Grange and Moore Park. We must emphasise to farmers at the farm gate the need to get our food products into new and emerging markets where the population is growing. The mature markets in Europe and so on have almost reached capacity. The real potential for Irish agriculture lies in the emerging markets. For this reason, we must focus our resources to ensure Irish products are sold on these markets.

We have already taken steps in this regard. The Minister is trying to get people into place in countries where diets are changing with a view to selling our products. New Zealand and other countries are also working hard in the emerging markets. We would also like to have the milk quota problem addressed. I would like the House to debate agriculture for two or three days to help members of the media to realise what is taking place in rural areas.

Written Answers follow Adjournment.

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