I welcome the Minister's statement that he will be flexible. The Minister's approach is right and proper because this Bill will have far-reaching effects on the agricultural industry and, for that reason, flexibility is very important. I realise a review of agriculture and of the farm income area is a difficult subject on which to have perfect legislation and I am sure we will have to continue to update legislation in the light of the changing situation in Europe. I want to congratulate and compliment Deputy Kirk for his consistent interest. Even before he was Minister, when he was a TD, he wrote papers and showed a very serious interest in the development of horticulture and tillage. Unfortunately for far too long we lacked people with ground experience.
I am very pleased that the Minister, Deputy Kirk is sitting here. I remember very clearly going to his house during my Seanad election campaign and I met him out in a field on a tractor. It is great to have someone who has "hands on" experience steering this Bill through the Seanad today. I appreciate very much the Ministers down-to-earth attitude and I am sure we will have an even better knowledge and a better grasp of the subject when this Bill goes through the Seanad. I appreciate the many difficulties and all the different areas that have to be covered. It is a difficult task. The setting up of the interim board in 1987 was a proper decision because it has given the Minister time to examine in a serious way any difficulties that might arise. I think that procedure was proper.
Potatoes, glasshouses, mushrooms and vegetables are all growth areas with potential for jobs. They need support and recognition and the fact that we are now competing with every country in Europe means we must give the maximum support to those involved in the horticulture scene. It has got to be fully developed; expertise, advice and financial aid must be updated and I think we have the right Minister here to do that.
First, I will deal with a subject which is fairly near to my heart, the potato industry which certainly has had a long history of difficulties. I sympathise with the Minister because he has had to take over and help out an industry that has been run down for years through bad management. For the past 20 years the potato industry has been largely managed from Merrion Square by a Civil Service structure that was far removed from the difficulties experienced on a farm. I believe the Potato Marketing Board and the Potato Marketing Company are largely responsible for having allowed the potato industry to fail. They administered the potato business from Merrion Square and they were out of touch completely with the world scene and developments in marketing. While their intentions were good and they were hoping to achieve reconition, unfortunately they presided over the total failure of this country to participate in any serious way in the marketing of potatoes.
The present Minister, Deputy Kirk, cannot be blamed for the failures in the past in the potato industry because the structures were very complicated. The Department of Agriculture were involved in the setting up of the Potato Marketing Board. That was a clumsy vehicle that never worked. After the setting up of the board which evolved into the Potato Marketing Company, that company set about trying to develop export markets. I claim it never did this successfully.
It is tragic for those of us who are interested in the potato business to look at the world scene where the Irish potato producers have declined while, at the same time, the world market has increased. In the past 15 years the market in Europe was able to expand from 857,000 tonnes of seed potatoes in 1970 to 1,082,000 tonnes in 1985. That expansion of the industry has taken place mainly in Holland, France and Scotland. The Dutch, in the years from 1970 to 1985, doubled the tonnage of seed potatoes they exported. In that very same period the production of seed potatoes in Ireland declined to the point when it was hardly worthwhile providing the structures of support, including the potato inspectors whose salary was paid by the Department of Agriculture. The tonnage declined to the point where one small boat would take all the potatoes the country produced. I speak with some knowledge and experience because that production was in my home county of Donegal.
That is the situation the Minister in charge of horticulture has taken over. It can only improve and it behoves all of us to give the maximum support to him in the hope that he will turn around an industry that was very valuable to this country. Many farm families were sustained and maintained from the production of seed and ware potatoes and when the seed industry declined, automatically the ware industry declined also because they were related and dependent on each other.
Many housewives will say they are buying imported potatoes because Irish potatoes are not graded properly. This is a cry from people who do not know the history on the ground and how difficult it has been. The small producer on the hillside farm has not had the support he should have had. We were supporting institutions in Merrion Square. On the dearest patch in this country we were supporting the best office the country could provide, with a staff of about 16, with cleaners and with tea trollies coming around at 10 o'clock. If you were to inspect the office at Merrion Square you would think it was in charge of a flourishing industry but if you paid a visit to a small farm anywhere in Ireland you would find that the farmer had very few facilities and no storage space at all. These are the root causes of the potato industry failing. We have had a serious decline, to the point where the industry is nearly lost.
The Minister must not make the mistake that has been made in the past of picking out a few large firms and supporting them at the expense of the producer. In Holland and in other countries where the production of potatoes is very successful farm prices are looked at very closely. Every producer must have proper accommodation. We must show the same care and give the same support for our producers. We must inspect his land, farm, implements, storage and facilities on the ground. If there is financial support it must be given to the farmer — the producer. All the other support we give is important but it is secondary. There is no point — and we did this for years in the meat industry — in supporting the processor. The person who needs support is the producer. The conditions have got to be right on the ground. If there is grant support it has got to be given to those on the ground. There is no point in allowing the industry to develop and, at the same time, not taking very good care of what is happening on the farm.
The Minister, Deputy Kirk, has enough experience to know that the support must be given direct to the farmer. I strongly urge him not to give substantial financial support to co-operatives because if he does that he will build up the co-ops and grading stations and marketing centres but they will have nothing to market and nothing to grade if the farmers are neglected. I strongly urge the Minister that primary attention should be given to farmers. I hope I am getting through to the Minister. I believe that he is in a position to know best.
I would also like to refer to the special difficulties we have in the glasshouse industry. Much the same story can be told about this industry because ten, 15 or 20 years ago we were developing the glasshouse industry throughout the country. Tomatoes were grown in those glasshouses, because we recognised that the Irish tomato has a special flavour and probably is the best tomato produced anywhere in Europe. At the time many of those glasshouses were heated by oil and the Suez crisis and the subsequent steep increase in oil prices left us with the problem that many of our producers and glasshouse owners had to go out of business. At this stage the Dutch took over because they had glasshouses heated by natural gas. They were importing the natural gas through a pipe grid from the Soviet Union. The steep increase in the price of oil and the fact that the Dutch had a competitive edge resulted in the collapse of our glass industry.
The provision or our own natural gas from Kinsale to Dundalk gives us an opportunity for a major development of the glasshouse industry.
There has been a completely turnaround and a new start is being made. If cheap energy is not provided for glasshouses and we cannot compete, we will not be able to stay in business. There is no point in the Department supporting the provision of glasshouses when it is evident that the industry is dependent on dear sources of energy. The Department will have to put down clear markers in regard to how glasshouses will be heated. If because of cheap energy they can compete with other European countries those glasshouses will survive. It would be a major mistake to support the provision of glasshouses unless it can be clearly established that cheap energy will be available to heat them.
With regard to the recent substantial development of the mushroom industry, I would like to compliment the Minister here, because he saw the niche in the market for the development of that industry. An Bord Glas have supported mushroom development in a positive and serious manner. Anything less would not have succeeded. It is nice to see the clusters of mushroom houses in rural areas. These are great developments and they will help to sustain small rural farms.
I urge the Minister to introduce tight supervision because mushrooms are prone to disease. Any breakdown in supervision will result in collapse and economic failure. I strongly urge the Minister to ensure he has the right personnel frequently calling for a number of years until the industry is established on a sound footing. Every month somebody should inspect the inside of those mushroom houses to see that they are being well maintained and that there is no disease. We must ensure that the people who have committed themselves to this industry and have received support are maintaining their mushroom houses in a way that will give the industry a good name and ensure that the Irish mushroom development will be a success story.
The fruit and vegetable industry is wide open for development. One could talk about fruit or vegetable development for a long time. We have not been successful in any major way in growing fruit. I know that, with our climate and being disease free, we could grow substantial tonnage of fruit and we could save on import if the right approach was made. We can grow plums, strawberries, raspberries or other fruit instead of importing thousands of tonnes every year. We have the right climate to grow our own fruit and vegetables. All that is needed is the supervision and the support on the ground.
The Department have to come to grips with this question of fruit production. They must be careful not to go into it on a big scale but to allow the industry to develop in a supervised way to the point where those involved in growing fruit recognise that there is only one way to survive financially, that is, to manage the business in a professional manner to compete with Europe, and to compete with other countries that are allowed free access to our markets. We have the climate and we have suitable land. Whether it is a question of shelter belts or other protection the grower needs, it is essential that the Department draw up conditions and provide assistance to the point where there is a reasonable chance that those involved in growing fruit will survive.
The same comments can be made in respect of vegetables. There is no other place in Europe we are aware of that can produce vegetables any better than they can be produced here at home. They might produce earlier cauliflower in Brittany and France and earlier lettuce under glass in Holland, but we here in Ireland have the perfect climate and soil for the production of vegetables. We are only scratching at the potential for development of the horticultural industry. There are thousands of jobs available. When one matches that with the tonnage coming into this country one becomes depressed. When will we ever come to grips with one of our greatest potential industries? I give strong support to the Minister of State in the formation of An Bord Glas. That puts down the framework for a new start in the whole development of vegetables, and fruit.
We have to start to educate people in horticulture. I encourage the new board to start in the schools, especially secondary schools. Every secondary school in the country should have a plot of ground. Whether or not they are involved in agriculture in a serious way, every secondary school and vocational school, should take an acre of land two miles down the road or have it within the confines of the school and should give an opportunity to their students to become involved in experimental work on horticulture. Every secondary school should have a glasshouse and should engage in the growing of early flowers and lettuce. The possibility of earning a good living at home should be brought home to every student. I strongly urge the Minister to look at the possibility of encouraging schools to have their own plot of ground where young people can be afforded the opportunity to grow and test crops. This will give them the opportunity of seeing what can be produced at home which is equal to the best we import.
I accompanied the Minister last year when he visited the Department's farm at Topp's in Raphoe. There is the opportunity of breeding plants there. Care and considerations for the proper breeding of plants and disease-free plants is basic. The Minister has made an important contribution to the breeding of plants. I encourage him to expand activities at Topp's farm in Raphoe. This should be supported and brought into the overall development plans of An Bord Glas. This will pay off very substantially.
It is not much of a contribution to criticise everything that is done or has not been done. It is better to make a more positive contribution. There have not been enough opportunities on the small rural farms in Ireland in the past few years. When the former president of the EC visited the country he indicated that his first priority was the retention and support of the small rural farm in Ireland and other countries. That was a welcome recognition. Unfortunately we have not had support on the ground for the small farm and we had reached the point when tillage had almost disappeared.
Barley production has practically ceased because it is no longer a profitable crop. The reason for this decline is largely because we are importing offal and animal feed from Third World countries. There is very little control over this. When one highlights the imports of Third World countries into Europe, which is making life difficult for farmers in this country, one is always told that it is a counter-balance to something else, that Europe will export its beef and so on and we have to allow certain quotas. Farmers who are involved in growing barley in County Donegal find that they have reached the stage when it is not profitable any longer largely because the offal is coming in from the other end of the world. Millers have to buy the cheapest imports. Boats of offal arrive daily in Belfast and Derry. Huge lorries of grain and offal arrive daily in County Donegal. The small farmer who has to rotate crops is no longer able to grow barely and make a profit. He cannot break even. This is a tragic situation. The answer appears to be beyond An Bord Glas and the Minister of State. This is a European problem. There is no point in offering help to small farmers if, at the same time, imports are being allowed to put them out of business. The money to support them in the first instance is being wasted.
We have got to recognise the advantages and educate our young people to be aware of them. We have a clean and a green island despite the fact that there is a lot of talk about pollution and smog. Our island is cleaner and greener than any other part of Europe or the world. That is not an exaggeration. We have the best climate, suitable and disease-free to produce all the different vegetables, the grain, and the grass, the cheapest feeding for animals. We have the best opportunity of anybody in Europe and we can survive any competition if our people are encouraged to believe in themselves and are committed to earning a living on the farm. Help has to be offered to stabilise development and to encourage people to believe there are many opportunities on this island.
Whether you have tillage, sheep, milk or whatever, the question of land use is a big factor. We have thousands of acres of land underdeveloped and under-used. Everywhere you go you see mass tracts of land that are not properly used. I would like to encourage the Department and An Bord Glas in particular to examine land that is not productive. Notice should be taken whether land is being held to accumulate value or whether it is held as an investment. The land has to produce to the maximum for the people of this country. If we channel our resources right we can do this.
Every time I get an opportunity I say that we have got to get away from sending loads of dole money down the country whether it is to Mayo or Donegal and sending the Army down to guard that money every week. People who are sick and in need of assistance should be helped but to continue to send money every week to good healthy young men is the wrong way to help people to believe in themselves. I strongly urge An Bord Glas to do a survey of how well we are using our land. It is basic and important. If land use is examined and we had a register showing how much land is not in production we would be surprised.
I encourage the Minister to examine alternative crops. Have we reached the stage where we cannot be competitive in any area in Europe. I mention, in particular, the growing of flax of which I have some basic knowledge. If the French can grow 66,000 acres and get nearly £9 million of EC subsidy, there is something wrong if we are not growing flax because we have a tradition of growing it. Irish linen was famous on the world scene. Years ago when there was little development on the land this country could have produced first-class linen grown from Irish flax. There are 11 spinning mills in the North of Ireland today producing Irish linen, some of it from Russian flax and none of it from Irish-grown flax. I ask the Minister to look at the possibility of providing some assistance to re-establish the flax industry on a commercial basis. We have the tradition, the knowledge and the climate. There are no fools in the industry in France and if they are growing 66,000 acres, it is about time we had a look at the potential for developing that industry here. I ask the Minister to examine carefully the possibility of alternative crops and one of those alternative crops is the growing of flax. This would help to establish a better economy on some of our farms.
I urge the Minister, when he is involved in setting up An Bord Glas, to look for people among the 11 members plus one member who are not tied to any category. He should not try to appease the IFA or any section of the community but should look for the best people he can get to develop this most important basic industry. That is where the Minister will succeed. I have no doubt about it. He will succeed by getting committed people, not intellectuals who are very able, not the Tony O'Reilly's of this world. If he gets people who have a pair of wellington boots on them rather than having a degree he will have a better chance of succeeding. I am not suggesting that the Minister does not look for practical and good business experience; I am suggesting that he looks for the best people he can get without saying that he has to take three from the IFA and four from somewhere else and he has to appease another section of the community. There must be no strings attached to the people who are selected to manage our most important industry. I urge the Minister to ensure that a percentage of the board of directors of An Bord Glas have practical experience of horticulture or agriculture. They must be committed to promote the development of land and tillage.
I attended a seminar in the Spa Hotel two years ago and I took a careful note of the different interests at that conference. Of 17 speakers at the conference 14 spoke about milk and milk quotas, calves and subsidies. The whole trend of that agricultural conference was about milk, how you measure the fats in milk, how you get prices, etc. I thought as I came away from the conference that although it was useful and the people at it were serious there was a major gap in so far as those who had no milk quotas were not considered at all. The formation of An Bord Glas will be a Government decision. I appeal publicly to the Minister to make very sure that part of the board is comprised of people who have a basic sound knowledge of tillage and horticulture, who will see that the tillage side of farming in Ireland is not neglected, forgotten or written off. If the structure of An Bord Glas membership is right, that problem will automatically solve itself.
The Minister has an onerous task. Very few Ministers involved in the Government have as big a task as he has. His decisions are very important at this stage, for the future of the industry. All I can do is to offer my total support. There will be a helpful approach from all the people involved in agriculture throughout the country because at the present time we are at the crossroads. The structures now being put in place are vital for the future of an important industry and I would choose no man other than the Minister and that is not an idle compliment I am paying him. Having good knowledge of agriculture and coming from a good agricultural background, he is the right Minister to set up the board, to pilot the development plans An Bord Glas will have to undertake.
At present, there are a number of inspectors throughout the country who are not very busy unfortunately. I am not being critical but I am bringing to notice the fact that the Department have a number of inspectors who are under-utilised. I hope that in the restructuring of An Bord Glas all of those people will be involved. It is discouraging for the staff themselves. I will say no more about that. It must be recognised that everybody involved in agriculture, from the Minister down, has to pull their weight if this very important industry is to succeed.
I wish the Minister success. I have great confidence in his ability to implement the new measures. The structures will give a new approach to agriculture and horticulture. The Minister has the confidence of the people involved in the industry. Certainly he has my confidence and good wishes with the new Bill.