Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Dowling. I am glad we have been able to conduct this meeting virtually. When I asked the Minister's predecessor why the beef task force had not been sitting for such a long period at the start of the Covid crisis, I was told it was not possible to meet virtually, so I am glad it is possible.

In the course of the beef task force's existence, laws have been passed in Spain that effectively preclude the sale of agricultural produce below the cost of production. It was a major bugbear of farmers - not just beef farmers but especially them - during the protests that gave rise to the beef task force that they were, in effect, being asked to produce beef below the cost of production. Beef can be produced in Ireland with far fewer carbon emissions than in most other parts of the world but, at the same time, there has been much Government subvention of beef farmers. Every time the Government puts money into beef farmers to try to make up for the fact that processors do not pay adequately for produce, the processors take that into account and cut the price even further.

Did the beef task force look at the Spanish law or any examples around Europe? There was a groceries order in Ireland that made below cost selling unlawful. That is slightly different to what has been done in Spain, which has banned selling below the cost of production. Did the beef task force look at that? If not, why not?