Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
138. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken to ensure that Irish beef farmers receive a price commensurate with that paid to their European Union counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26286/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the nature of all markets, particularly in export dependent sectors such as Irish beef, is that prices will fluctuate. However, our beef and suckler farmers produce a world-class, safe, traceable and sustainable product and deserve to be rewarded for their efforts.
I am acutely aware of the potential pressures being faced by many sectors across the agriculture industry due to the increase in input costs.
My Department continuously monitors the market situation for beef and other agri-food commodities.
The Bord Bia export benchmark, which is an indicator that takes account of prices for cattle at different grades and categories in the main export markets for Irish beef, indicates that the Irish composite price has been lagging behind the export benchmark since January.
Recent data from my Department for the week beginning 2nd May shows the Irish R3 Steer price of €4.97 per kilogram is 8 cents per kilogram above the EU average price, based on an average of 14 Member States.
At EU level, I have raised concerns in relation to the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on agri-food supply chains at successive AgriFish Councils. At these meetings I underlined the need to closely monitor supply chains to ensure an effective and functioning Single Market, and to be ready to consider any measures that may help to alleviate the difficulties caused.
In acknowledgement of the need to address the multiple impacts of the illegal invasion in Ukraine on food supply chains and food security, I have secured significant additional national funding towards support measures this year including our beef and suckler farmers.
The Deputy will also be aware that on 3rd May 2022, I brought a Memorandum for Information to Government on a proposed Fodder Support Scheme, with the objective of supporting farm families to conserve silage and hay during summer 2022, to ensure that there are sufficient stocks of fodder in the country for next winter. This scheme will require approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department is continuing to engage with that Department on the funding aspects of the scheme. I expect to announce further details on the proposed scheme shortly.
More generally for the beef sector, my Department provides a range of financial aids to support beef farm incomes and to support economic and environmental efficiency. The core support for the beef sector under the current Rural Development Programme is the €300 Million Beef Data and Genomics Programme. In addition to BDGP, significant additional supports have been made available specifically to the beef sector in recent years, for example through the BEEP and BEEP-S schemes.
I continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and I am actively engaging with the EU Commission, across Government and with industry as this situation unfolds. This is period of considerable challenge for the agri-food sector as a whole. I have taken a proactive approach, through the various measures I have announced since this crisis started, to support our farm families and their businesses and I will continue to do so.
