I share the Deputy's concern in regard to the suckler cow herd. As the excitement grows in advance of 2015 regarding the potential of the dairy industry, there is a danger, if we are not careful, that in parts of the country where dairy has real potential the beef herd could become a by-product of the dairy herd, which is not at all what we want. Currently, half of the beef sold out of Ireland comes from the dairy herd and half from the suckler herd. All of the high-end, high-value product comes from suckler herds. We must keep that intact.
That is the basis on which I am seeking to protect and defend the suckler cow welfare scheme in the build-up to a difficult budget. We must send a strong signal that we will support the suckler herd financially, if necessary, in order to keep it intact, particularly for those farmers who are producing higher quality beef, as are the approximately 30,000 who are in the welfare scheme and the beef quality assurance scheme that goes with it. We will continue to pursue policies that counteract a reduction in the size of the suckler herd. Ireland's beef exports are expected to decline to 460,000 tonnes this year from 500,000 in 2010. While the value of beef exports is rising as a consequence of increasing beef prices, the volume has decreased slightly, which is something we must address. It is a similar story in terms of sheep and lamb, although lamb prices are starting to decrease.