Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Healy made the point that the industry is seeking maximum return and best price. For whom is it seeking maximum return? Are the individual companies not seeking it for their shareholders or whoever owns the meat factory? The farmers I speak to say they are price-takers. When they sell animals to one factory they will not get a much different price from another factory down the road. Farmers are being asked to carry the cost. It is not true that the factories are maximising return for the benefit of farmers. The farmer goes to a factory and takes the price he gets.