I have ensured that Deputies who were unable to contribute yesterday got an opportunity to do so today. We have eight minutes remaining and I will take speakers as they appear on the list. Deputy Murphy O'Mahony will be followed by Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.

Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara ach níl sé anseo. Mar sin, cuirfidh mé an cheist ar an Taoiseach. There is much talk about farm incomes. The programme for Government included a commitment to protect farm incomes. Farmers across west Cork are on their knees. Beef prices are a major factor in that regard. Why is the Government standing over the importation of beef from other countries when we have enough beef here? This is obviously greatly affecting prices. Why is the Government standing over the importation of beef when there is no need for it?

I acknowledge the terrible impact low beef prices are having on the incomes of our beef farmers. I really hope we will see prices rise in the next few weeks, at least to the European average which they had been at previously. The Deputy will know the Teagasc farm report shows that farmers’ incomes fell precipitously in 2018 and while they recovered a bit in 2019, they have not recovered fully by any means. To answer the Deputy’s question, the reason we allow the import of food from other countries is that we are part of the European Union. We have a Single Market with the rest of the European Union. The Union has trade deals with other parts of the world which allow goods to be imported and exported. By and large, as a country, we gain overwhelmingly from that.