Michael Fitzmaurice: Farmers Lose Confidence in Board BN
Michael Fitzmaurice spoke in a parliamentary debate about farmers' confidence in Board BN and the state of Irish meat exports. He warned that falling sheep export values, weak cattle prices and doubts over imported meat traceability are eroding trust among farmers.
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The speaker told colleagues he welcomed farmers from across the country and said farmers contribute £6 million to Board BN. He argued that while exports are often celebrated, a growing lack of confidence among farmers is a critical problem that politicians must address.
Sheep and cattle export trends
He set out figures for sheep exports, noting £475 million in 2022, a decrease in 2023 of £35 million, a fall to £400 million in 2024 and a current level of £360 million. He also highlighted weakening cattle prices - down by about £2.50-£3.00 - and pointed to supply and demand factors, including the loss of 250 suckler cows.
Price comparisons and market realities
The speaker contrasted domestic prices with international examples, saying Red Tractor in England obtained £20 more for beef and citing average prices in Germany of £7.70. He emphasised these are realities of supply and demand rather than personal failings of individuals or organisations.
Traceability and imports concerns
He raised concerns about imported meat, mentioning Mercosur countries and saying there are question marks over traceability, medicines and hormones. He referred to reporting by the Irish Farmers Journal as evidence that has contributed to fear and doubt among producers.
Call for food labelling and regulatory debate
The speaker urged a wider debate on food labelling and on what is coming into and going out of the market - not only beef but pork and chicken. He framed the issue in legal, moral and ethical terms and said that if farmers lose faith, politicians must listen and act.
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I welcome the opportunity in speaking on this debate. First of all, I want to welcome the farmers from all the different farming bodies right around the country. I think there are a few things we need to put into perspective here. Farmers right around this country contribute £6 million to Board BN, and no-one is knocking every part of Board BN. Let no-one go saying that. There is a job for everyone to do, but we are great at telling the story and it is great to hear the amount of exports each year, but I have done an analysis of sheep. We do not hear that part of it, that in 2022 we exported £475 million worth, or Euros worth. In 2023 we are down £35 more million. In 2024 we are down to £400 million and now we are down to £360 million. That is less sheep, but it is less money coming into a country. So we do not hear that story. We hear, last year, let us be honest about it, milk prices were good. I looked at cattle prices in 2023 and cattle prices now. There is something like £2.50 or £3.00. Why? Is it because we have experts? Is it because we have heroes? Is it because we have the greatest people running things? No! The facts are that Red Tractor in England was able to get £20 more for their beef than our beef. That is the facts. The facts are in Germany, average prices were £7.70. Throughout Europe, that is what they were. And that is not saying that someone is doing something wrong, but it is supply and demand. Numbers of cattle. We have lost 250 suckler cows. Why? Because farmers were sick of going out pulling calves and the Wainland wasn't paying. That is the bottom line and farmers vote with their feet. But to go back to Bourbea, the farmers of this country put £6 million towards it and the government will give money as well. But there is legally and there is morally. And at the end of the day, if you lose the dressing room, you have a problem. And I haven't spoke to any farmer yet in the last two weeks that has told me that they have confidence in the situation that has evolved at the moment. That is a problem, because if farmers lose confidence in something, we rely on the farmers of this country to produce the food to the highest quality. They have to even watch that the cat is vaccinated when the Bourbea order comes to them. That the dog has got looked after. That the spraying machine and the PTO shafts, that everything is right. And they do that to make sure that Irish food being exported is a quality product and they have that in them on it. I think a larger debate has to take place on food labelling in this country and throughout Europe. I think a larger debate has to come, we are looking it up at the moment, on what is coming in and what is going out, not alone on beef, on pork, on chicken. I think there is an awful lot we have to research in this. And as I say, ethically, morally, legally. We can talk about it till the cows come home. But if people lose hope on something, that is a problem. And if you end up, and let's be honest about it, if I go out to a trade fair in Europe and I am captain of that ship to promote something. And there is a story behind me, rightly or wrongly, that 99% of what I have came through Europe. But do you know what? From one of the Mercosur countries. And the problem is, and this is the big problem. There is a question mark over traceability, a question mark over the medicines and a question mark over the hormones. It has been proved to us by the Irish Farmers Journal. And the fear and the doubt comes into people. And if you track through companies and track through what is happening, it is like trying to go into the world and look to see where someone lives when you try and go through books. And tomorrow will be an interesting day, but when you and the farmers of this country that produces the finest of food lose faith in somebody, we as politicians, I believe, have to listen.
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