Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss forestry sector, pig industry and milk contracts

The meeting from 9am to 4.30pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be split into four sessions to hear from:

• 9am-11am – Afforestation and the Forestry Sector, with representatives of SAVE Groups and the Social, Economic, Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA
• 11am-12.30pm – Update on Forestry Sector Targets, with Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine;
• 1.30pm-3.30pm – Challenges Facing the Pig Industry, with representatives from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and Meat Industry Ireland (MII); 
• 3.30pm-4.30pm – Fixed Price Milk Contracts, with representatives from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS).

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “The Committee welcomes this opportunity to meet again with representatives from the forestry sector to discuss ongoing issues in the sector. The low level of afforestation in particular is very worrying and is something that the Committee intends to refocus on. We also look forward to hearing an update forestry targets from Minister Hackett.

“In our afternoon sessions, the Committee will examine two sectors under increasing strain due to matters outside their control. Pig farmers are in the eye of a perfect storm at the moment, with prices having fallen substantially and costs rising by the day. There are serious losses being incurred by pig farmers at the moment. This is the third most important sector in the Irish agri-food industry, and unless things change quickly, many farmers will find it impossible to keep their businesses viable.

“Fixed milk price contracts will also be discussed by the Committee in our final session. There is a substantial number of dairy farmers who find themselves in fixed milk price contracts. No one expected costs to escalate as they have in recent times and these farmers now find themselves in precarious positions with fixed milk prices and costs spiralling out of control.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.