I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "further notes that" and substitute the following: "— the Board of Bord Bia, including the Chair, is made up of 15 members from across all areas of the agri-food sector, and its function is to promote, assist and develop, in any manner which the Board considers necessary or desirable, the marketing of Irish food and livestock; — the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine estimates that total Irish agri-food exports in 2025 will be a record €21 billion; — the growth in the value of agri-food exports has been remarkable, increasing from an exports value of €10 billion in 2011; — beef exports to some 70 countries have increased over the last five years by 40 per cent, from €2.2 billion in 2019 to €3.1 billion in 2024, an increase of €890 million; — Bord Bia is carrying out its mission to a high standard, making its contribution along with farmers and the wider agri-food industry to the export success of a vital sector; — the Origin Green programme, supported by the work of farmers' and their participation in Quality Assurance Schemes at farm level, has been integral in providing proof points to international customers of the quality and sustainability of Irish food and drink products, and creating market opportunities for that produce; — the Board of Bord Bia has discussed the issues raised, and the majority agreed outcome was to support the Chairperson to continue in office, with all of the Board members strongly endorsing the personal integrity and experience of the Chair, and acknowledged that there was no legal or governance issue at play; — the Chairperson has accepted an invitation to appear at the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food on Thursday 5th February to discuss the issues raised; and — the Government retains confidence in the Chairperson.". It is a deep disappointment to me that we are here this evening to discuss this motion. Tonight, a political party is trying to exploit the concerns of farmers for its own narrow interests. We face loads of challenges in agriculture that need to be addressed. Earlier this week I met the European Commissioners for agriculture and budget alongside the Tánaiste and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. On the table for discussion was the EU’s budget for the next seven years and the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. We could have used our time this evening to debate and discuss that because it is critical to the incomes of over 120,000 Irish farms. The clock is ticking on how to make the best use of the time we have now before Ireland assumes the European Presidency, to put the green jersey on and act in the best interests of our farmers. Earlier today I briefed my Cabinet colleagues on the latest situation regarding the first outbreak of bluetongue in Ireland, a serious development that has the potential to create real difficulties for our farmers during what is an incredibly busy time on farms. We could have had an opportunity this evening to discuss the issue and reassure farmers that everything that can be done is being done to set out the intensive testing and surveillance that is under way and ensure the continued flow of product and livestock, and the steps farmers can take to protect their farms. Instead, Sinn Féin has done what Sinn Féin always does. It has sought to divide, to enrage and to grandstand.
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That is not surprising. Explaining global food supply chains and contingency planning does not make for good social media clips. It is much easier for them to come in here and roar and shout as Deputy McGuinness is doing about giving a man the sack. Did Sinn Féin make any attempt to seek a briefing from the chair of Bord Bia on this issue before calling for his head? I did not think so; there is silence.
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It is the same briefing I got and members of Bord Bia got. The Members opposite could have sought it before they called for a man to resign. Maybe the facts would not have been helpful as they are trying to whip people up. They have form on this. Their leader Mary Lou McDonald called for the head of the Garda Commissioner the day after riots in Dublin. Their housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin called for a senior Department of Finance official to be sacked because he did not like his opinion. With Sinn Féin it is sack first and ask questions later. I believe tonight’s motion sends a clear message to the chair of every other State board in the country as to how Sinn Féin operates. At the centre of this issue is a contract between an Irish food company, which employs thousands of people here, and a major international client. It is a contract worth hundreds of millions to Irish agriculture and one that extends to over 40 markets way beyond just Ireland, the UK and Europe to include the Middle East and Asia as well. Let us not forget that the vast majority of food produced on this island, over 90% of farmers' beef, sheep meat and dairy, is exported. Our industry operates in a global trading environment and that means we have to be responsive to the customers' requirements. The reality is that major international customers require proof of contingency provisions for continuity of supply in the unlikely event of disruption to the supply chain in Ireland or across EU supplies. The fact that we are talking about less than 1% of the overall contract demonstrates it is just that, proof of a channel for contingency of supply should a food outbreak break out like we had with pork dioxins in 2008 when every bit of Irish pork came off the shelves overnight.
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If this was about price, it would be a lot more than 1%. The Deputy does not like what I am saying. I did not interrupt him.
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If this were about price we would be talking about a lot more than 1%. It is not. In general, if an Irish food company-----
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I did not interrupt you lads.
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I will offer the time afterwards to my colleagues as well.
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Can I get his time afterwards?
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As I was saying, if an Irish food company failed to address the contingency supply as part of a contract for a major international buyer of Irish produce, that client company would take its business elsewhere. Imagine for a minute here, with all their shouting and bluster, if that contract had gone to a Dutch, German or any non-Irish food company-----
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-----how much of that contract do they think would involve Irish produce? It is very little, I can guarantee. The Bord Bia board met on Thursday, 22 January to discuss the issues raised and the recent media coverage. I sought and received a detailed report from Bord Bia following that meeting. It is worth repeating that the members strongly endorsed the integrity of the chairman, the transparency of his business and his invaluable experience that has benefited Bord Bia and the wider Irish food industry. There was acknowledgement that there were no legal or governance issues at play. The board had good and thorough discussion of the issues covered in the media and the majority of board members were fully supportive of the chair continuing to serve. The chairman has offered to meet the IFA and its full national council, and all of its county and commodity chairs. I know there are many here. He offered to provide a detailed briefing in relation to the company’s approach to sourcing. To date, this offer has not been taken up. Just over three weeks ago, the Ministers of State, Deputies Grealish, Healy-Rae and Dooley and I addressed the IFA national council in Bluebell for over three hours at its AGM. A lot of different viewpoints were expressed. We listened and responded and while we might not have agreed on everything, I think we all left with a better understanding of each other’s perspectives at the end. This current impasse does not serve farmers’ interests well. I again urge the IFA leadership to consider this offer from the chairman of Bord Bia because denying IFA council members that same briefing is doing them a disservice too. In the meantime, the chairman has accepted an invitation to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food tomorrow, Thursday, 5 February. That will be an opportunity to hear the detail of the matter. Given its negligent or deliberate refusal to seek a full briefing on the issue before now, it is not a coincidence that Sinn Féin is attempting to suppress that process with a motion before the House here tonight, creating-----
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Prove my point.
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Prove my next line before I say it.
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Sinn Féin is creating noise and bluster to try to make sure farmers cannot get any reasonable, detailed debate around the detail of this matter.
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As I said at the outset, we face loads of challenges in agriculture.
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They will not be resolved by ultimatums or diktats. I have always defended the agriculture sector. I have done so in the best interests of our farmers and our wider agrifood sector. That is my job.
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That is my job in the Department and at the Cabinet table. I do it to the very best of my ability and I will continue to do it, whether it is on nitrates, Mercosur-----
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-----CAP or on bluetongue.
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Instead of coming in here looking for cheap social media clips on the back of an individual who has made a significant contribution to an important organisation-----
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-----Sinn Féin might reflect on whether it could have used its time better here in farmers' interests discussing another item.
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I trust my colleague will get the appropriate four minutes that eluded him because of the interruptions.
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No.
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It is a deliberate attack.
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It is a deliberate attack by Sinn Féin.
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He is entitled to his time, because you interrupted him.
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A whole year-----
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You are superseding the very committee you will sit on tomorrow. You are superseding the work of that committee.
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