Mr. Cormac Healy:

MII will speak on its membership, but as far as our membership is concerned, we are based on full-time direct employment. When this came up in the course of last year we worked with members and we estimated that less than 2% of the overall workforce represented by our members are agency and I think the figure is decreasing. It was higher and it is decreasing. As far as our members are concerned, it is not a route of sourcing employment. We are for full-time direct employment.

To add to what the Chairman said, there are published accounts of meat processors. The narrative that this is a highly profitable sector is too easy. Recently published accounts from various primary beef processors show profit margins of 0.3%, 0.6% or 1%. They were referenced in a recent ICTU report, which is available. In the report, which I understand was published in the past month, profit margins were itemised and shown to be-----