Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives of all the organisations for coming in and making very coherent presentations. Members of the farming community who are engaging in this process and asking what it will ultimately mean for them will welcome that the overall objective is to ensure a fair standard of living for agricultural producers but how that impacts in practice will be the key litmus test. As a primarily export producing agricultural nation, it is key that the measures are being done at European level because the domestic level represents only a small part of the sector. The key recurring issue domestically is price. Our biggest issues are in our beef sector where farmers sell to the factories; the price farmers are getting for milk; and sheep farming in terms of the engagement between farmers and producer groups and factories. The key question they will be asking with regard to the impact of this directive and its market transparency aspects is how will it impact on the very imbalanced relationship they have with those they sell their produce to, notably the meat factories. In terms of how this will feed down and ensure a fair price and a fair slice of the overall cake for the primary producers domestically, do the witnesses see this making a real impact and changing that dynamic? If not, are there additional steps that could be taken to strengthen the directive to try to ensure it resets the dynamic between farmers and the factories in particular?

Ms Graham mentioned the 70 day rule and the penalties if there are more than four movements. I am interested in the input of other contributors on that. My understanding is it was introduced initially to deal with BSE. Is there a particular need for it now? Do the witnesses perceive it as something that should be addressed?