Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have given this issue a fair airing. In my view, it is obvious that a cartel is operating here. I have watched fertiliser prices for a good few years at this stage and when milk prices were on the up fertiliser prices went up. The war in Ukraine obviously exacerbated the situation. The purchase price for fertiliser in this country is out of kilter. While Deputy Fitzmaurice and I agree, the committee does not have the power to launch an investigation into the matter. We will write to the Minister urging him to hold an investigation into the prices farmers are paying for raw materials.

I thank the witnesses for their contributions. The joint committee will meet in private at 3 p.m. next Wednesday, 3 May 2023. The next public meeting will take place at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 3 May 2023, when we will discuss the biomethane renewable gas industry.