Bord Bia and beef marketing
Deputy Martin Kenny argued that the agrifood commitment requires stronger resourcing of Bord Bia and better marketing for beef, especially in the Brexit context. The Chair repeatedly ruled the price-of-cattle remarks out of order, and the debate became a procedural back-and-forth with Members insisting the issue was relevant.
In the programme for Government there is a commitment to the agrifood sector. Much of that is around Bord Bia, the issue of properly resourcing it and making sure we have proper marketing of our produce, particularly in the context of Brexit which was mentioned by the previous questioner. Yesterday and in the week ending 19 February, the average price for R3 grade heifers in Ireland was 384 cent per kilo. The EU average was 382 cent per kilo.
Comment on this
It is two cent per kilo above the average in Europe, yet we in Ireland are supposed to have the cream of the crop. We have the best agricultural sector in the world. We have free roaming cattle, grass fed cattle and the family farm, yet we find we are just about or, at times, below average in the price we receive for our produce.
Comment on this
We need to ensure we are marketing our cattle in line with the new model of marketing our beef and our meat exports across the world.
Comment on this
Are we going to resource Bord Bia and our marketing people across Ireland to make sure that happens? Brexit is going to destroy our farming industry if we do not do something about it.