Vol. 469 No. 6
190 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will make a statement on the recently reported remark that the number of full-time farmers in the State will drop to around 60,000 in eight to ten years time. [18075/96]
At an Agricultural Science Association conference some weeks ago, and more recently in the Dáil, I expressed my view that, by the year 2,006, even with EU prices moving closer to world prices, at least 60,000 Irish farmers will be as competitive as any other farmers in the world. I went on to say that these farmers can produce milk or meat cheaper than anyone else and, with improved economies of scale and greater efficiency, those farmers will be in a position to make a viable income from agriculture by the year 2006. I also went on to say that if — as is likely — EU policy changes go in the direction of lowering prices, there would, of course, need to be additional compensation to protect income generally in the farming sector.
