Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The genesis of the problem appears to be that the initial price reduction was because the specification had changed for young bulls being processed in the UK. There was a demand for animals aged no more 16 months at 380 kg. It compromised a limited part of that market. The Derrypatrick project was built around an 18 month system so that we could produce young bulls for processing at home, as opposed to exporting them live at a younger age to more lucrative markets. It is puzzling that the 16 months specification has had such a tumultuous effect on the rest of the market.