Rose Conway-Walsh Questions Future of Beef Task Force and Feedlots

Minister, what are your plans for the future of the Beef Task Force and what consideration have you given to extending its remit in order to secure a fair price for beef farmers? Are you satisfied that it has achieved the transparency and equity that it has set out to achieve? The Prime Minister, The Beef Task Force was established on the foot of the Beef Sector Agreement on 15 September 2019. Its remit set out in terms of reference was to monitor the implementation of the actions arising from that agreement. The Task Force was to meet at least quarterly from October 2019 for a period of one year, after which the Task Force progress was to be reviewed. However, progress was delayed then in 2020 due to the COVID-19. As the Deputy may be aware, I requested the Independent Chair of the Task Force, Mr Michael Dowling, to provide a report to me on the progress of the Task Force, which he has done, and I will complete my analysis of the final report, after which I will make the necessary decision on future strategic engagement with the sector. The Beef Sector Agreement contained 38 specific actions. Of these 38, 30 were finite actions which had timelines attached for completion. The remaining eight are ongoing actions which, by their nature, are long-term and will continue outside the context of the context of the Beef Task Force. All documents from the Task Force meetings, including minutes and updated progress reports, are published on the Gov.ie website. It should be noted that the Task Force was set up in response to issues that prevailed in the sector in late summer 2019 and had specific actions to address. It is conceivable that it may not be the most suitable vehicle for addressing those that exist in 2021 and beyond. I will make a decision on that shortly. Effective strategic engagement across the Beef Sector is crucial to its development in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable way that works for all actors in the supply chain and has to work for farmers particularly. As the Deputy will be aware, the determination of price for beef or any other commodity is a commercial matter. However, the Deputy can be assured that my Department and I will continue to support constructive strategic engagement with the sector, as well as measures aimed at strengthening the supply chain, including support for producer organisations and interventions aimed at supporting productive and environmental efficiency for beef farmers in the future. I am also progressing the work to deliver the prime legislation that is required to establish the Office of the National Food Ombudsman, which I believe have a major role to play in delivering much-needed transparency for the sector. The Prime Minister, one of the key tasks that needs to be undertaken is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of the factory-owned feedlots in the market, including their impact on the prices and the effect on the environment. The figures released by your Department show that the numbers originating from the feedlots have increased drastically. The number of cattle originating from the unit with feedlot status during the first eight months of 2021 was 224,000. That puts this year's overall potential kill for animals originating from controlled finishing units well on course to exceed last year's total of 299,000. Last year's overall figure of 299,000 was in itself 10,500 stronger than in 2019 at 288,500. I would disagree with Deputy McNamara, first of all, in relation to being able to finish animals under 30 months off grass. I think that is done, and many farmers are delivered in farms across the country. Without concentrates? I know, with minimal concentrates as well. Indeed, I know it is being done as well without concentrates. Listen, undoubtedly, you will see it in your part of the country, Deputy Conway Walsh and Deputy Carthies, where many animals are sold in March and then for 10 or 12 weeks they are put through a finishing programme which adds to their weight and adds to their value as well. That certainly is a common practice and contributes to the value of the overall animal. Any animal that will be qualified for the BGI grass-fed status will have to be fed on 95 per cent grass diet throughout their life. That is really important and they will all have to meet that criteria. In relation to Deputy Carthy's point on the new beef caravan efficiency scheme, where I will be delivering €150 on the first 10 cows and €120 after that, which is an increase from €90 and €80, which is available under the BDGP, there will not be any limit in relation to the amount of stock that farmers can keep within that scheme. I will be setting a reference here in terms of how many get paid for, but in terms of farmers increasing their numbers, there will not be any limit in that. This is something I have been engaging with farmers right across the country on, and my objective here is to fully support the suckler farmer to ensure it remains an anchor of our beef sector, to support family farms, and the scheme that I put in place will very much do that. Final question, Minister.