Food production “cannot be switched on and off” - Smith

Falling incomes are threatening the future of Irish agriculture more than Brexit Deputy Brendan Smith said speaking in the Dáil last week.

The Cavan Monaghan TD and European Election candidate was speaking on a Fianna Fáil Private Motion put forward by Deputy Charlie McConalogue. The motion contains 14 detailed measures relating to a number of issues including beef prices, CAP, the impact of Brexit and the Quality Pricing System.

Deputy Smith said the proposals in the motion were “realistic and essential” and need to be implemented “at the earliest possible date”.

He told the chamber of a meeting in which he, along with Deputies Charlie McConalogue from Donegal and Lough TD Declan Breathnach, Senator Diarmuid Wilson, met the farming community in Carlingford, County Louth: farmers from counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath.

“They were at their wits' end, especially people from the beef sector, the livestock sector and the suckler herd owners. They outlined very clearly to us that they are not making an income and that returns are below the costs of production,” Deputy Smith said.

He spoke about their concern about the viability of agriculture: “They question how long they will remain in the sector. It is very worrying when one hears of good farmers, who have invested heavily in building up their herd and on-farm facilities, questioning their future.”

Deputy Smith spoke of the timeliness of taking action: “Food production is unlike the production of other commodities in that food production cannot be switched on and off. It cannot be switched on at the farm or at the processing or manufacturing sector. If confidence is undermined it is a very negative message for the future.

“We cannot allow farmers to continue to fail to derive the income they need in producing the top quality product this country is very proud to export to so many other countries around the world. I refer again to the CAP. Any reduction in overall CAP funding would be detrimental not only to the rural economy but also to the national economy,” Deputy Smith concluded.