Ms Sinéad McPhillips:

The Department does not have a role in setting prices and cannot interfere, in terms of competition, between factories and farmers. We have tried to make efforts to achieve better integration of the whole supply chain.

For example, we would see the development of beef producer organisations as a good option in strengthening the power of farmers in the beef supply chain. That has worked reasonably well in other sectors. Colleagues have engaged in detailed discussions and briefings with interested groups. If we could get one or two good examples of groups that have been established and are working well, we would see this as having a positive effect.