Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak on this motion. Respect and trust has been lost among the farming community, particularly in the beef sector, over the past number of months and years. In the past number of weeks, that loss of respect and trust has been borne out by the protests that are taking place. Agreement was reached at the weekend and all the farm organisations agreed to go back to the picket line but we can see how difficult it is for them to help stand down this protest. They are finding it an incredibly hard sell. There is a caveat in all this which is the beef producers organisation. That can be the conduit for delivery but it is being stonewalled by the factories. They are not returning its calls, they are not engaging with it and are not giving it the opportunity to help stand down this protest.

It can be done if the factories engage with the organisation. That is the space in which the price can be negotiated and delivered. In discussing matters this evening, however, it does not appear that we have reached that point. We need the Minister’s assistance. He must intervene and somebody needs to talk to the factories. I do not refer to the price in this regard. That should be decided upon by the factories and the representative organisation. It needs to happen.

Last night, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine commended the beef producing organisation on coming forward and setting this up. It is innovative and progressive. Let us support those involved and assist them by engaging.

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