AM: Minister, you will be
aware, of course, that there are a number of factors currently
having a negative impact on the beef sector as it currently stands,
with major concerns about prices and the impact of the stockpiling
that happened in the expectation that Brexit would happen earlier,
and that's now hitting the market and having an impact on the
viability of what's being produced here in Wales.
Now, there have been demands for the Welsh Government and Hybu
Cig Cymru, processors and retailers to come together in order to
work with the industry to tackle some of these problems. Beef
farmers in Ireland, of course, will see €100 million being
directed towards them through the European Commission and the
Irish Government, so may I ask what you as a Government intend to
do to respond to the situation faced by the sector?
AM (Minister for
Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs): Well, I'm not
aware of having a request for us all to come together, but you'll
be very aware that, next week, we'll be at the Royal Welsh Show,
where all the people that you've just mentioned can come together
to discuss this. I've seen the press release from National
Farmers Union Cymru. I've also had a discussion, very briefly,
with NFU Cymru on this issue. Farming is an industry where market
changes are commonplace, but the beef sector has experienced a
really turbulent time, I think, over the past few months and,
clearly, lower prices are a concern. So, I'm very happy to
discuss this with anybody who has an interest in it. As I say,
we'll all be in the same place next week, so maybe that will be
the opportunity to do so.
You mentioned Ireland, and, obviously, the Republic of Ireland,
the prices are low in a historic context and the evidence does
suggest that the uncertainty of our exit from the European Union
is harming Irish beef producers too, and I know their prices have
been consistently low, but I think there is a parity there at the
moment that we haven't seen before.
