Suckler farmers need an investigation into what has gone wrong in the beef sector, the Oireachtas committee for agriculture was told on Tuesday.
Officials from the Department of Agriculture appeared in front of the committee to provide an update on the future of the beef sector in the context of Food Wise 2025.
In her opening statement, assistant secretary general in the Department of Sinead McPhilips said the Department remained committed to supporting and developing the beef sector.
Critical state
Reacting, Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae said suckler farmers were in a critical state and that his constituents needed answers on what has gone wrong in the beef sector.
“There’s something wrong and there needs to be an investigation,” he demanded.
“The Department needs to be brought to task.”
The Department of Agriculture was accused of failing to grasp the reality of the crisis in the beef sector.
Showing visible frustration, Fianna Fáil’s Jackie Cahill said the Department needed to “state facts and not try to hoodwink people”. He said Food Wise made no mention of profitability and that farmers were losing money hand over fist.
Insult
He branded the Department’s response to the challenges in the beef sector as an insult.
McPhilips emphasised the Department had no role in setting beef prices but that it had made efforts to facilitate better integration in the supply chain, particularly through producer organisations.
She said Minister Creed stressed the need for stakeholder to recognise their independence and work together. However, as of yet, no beef forum meetings are planned for 2019.
Supports
McPhilips said the lack of profitability in the suckler sector was not a new issue and 20 years ago, payments made up 100% of suckler farm incomes.
She said analysis would show suckler farmers received €500/cow in supports. It was added that all future payments would need to be justifiable based on delivering economic and environmental efficiencies.