Taoiseach Micheál Martin accepted that the Government needs to more for the tillage and horticulture sectors, as he said that schemes that can lock in markets have a significant role to play in this regard.
“I accept the Deputy's basic premise that we need to do more in the context of horticulture and tillage,” the Taoiseach stated in response to a question put by Dublin mid-west TD Paul Gogarty on Wednesday.
“We need to look at incentives to give us greater security and capacity in that respect.
“The Minister for Enterprise recently announced a scheme to bring flour milling back into being here. Schemes that can guarantee farmers a market or an outcome in respect of a product are important.”
The Taoiseach told the Dáil that Ireland’s livestock sectors “feed a lot of people” “which speaks to European food security and food security in Britain”.
However, he added that Deputy Gogarty had “highlighted a weakness when it comes to tillage and horticulture”.
“The dominance of meat and dairy is, to a certain extent, related to global supply chains, markets and the returns achieved. We have to work on ring-fencing good returns for tillage and horticulture into the future.”
Food security
The Fianna Fáil leader sounded a need to “systematically identify potential weaknesses” that could arise if food imports were curtailed.
He acknowledged “vulnerabilities in terms of the importation of a range of foodstuffs” but said that Ireland probably needs to situate its conversation on food security in the context of Europe and the wider world.
The Taoiseach committed to engaging with Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon on the prospect of developing a "national food security plan".
Read more
Taoiseach 'very keen' to support tillage farmers
Taoiseach Micheál Martin accepted that the Government needs to more for the tillage and horticulture sectors, as he said that schemes that can lock in markets have a significant role to play in this regard.
“I accept the Deputy's basic premise that we need to do more in the context of horticulture and tillage,” the Taoiseach stated in response to a question put by Dublin mid-west TD Paul Gogarty on Wednesday.
“We need to look at incentives to give us greater security and capacity in that respect.
“The Minister for Enterprise recently announced a scheme to bring flour milling back into being here. Schemes that can guarantee farmers a market or an outcome in respect of a product are important.”
The Taoiseach told the Dáil that Ireland’s livestock sectors “feed a lot of people” “which speaks to European food security and food security in Britain”.
However, he added that Deputy Gogarty had “highlighted a weakness when it comes to tillage and horticulture”.
“The dominance of meat and dairy is, to a certain extent, related to global supply chains, markets and the returns achieved. We have to work on ring-fencing good returns for tillage and horticulture into the future.”
Food security
The Fianna Fáil leader sounded a need to “systematically identify potential weaknesses” that could arise if food imports were curtailed.
He acknowledged “vulnerabilities in terms of the importation of a range of foodstuffs” but said that Ireland probably needs to situate its conversation on food security in the context of Europe and the wider world.
The Taoiseach committed to engaging with Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon on the prospect of developing a "national food security plan".
Read more
Taoiseach 'very keen' to support tillage farmers
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