Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes. I listened to some of the debate but caught up on another meeting also. I will make one quick point. In this country the supermarkets, co-operatives and everybody else rip off the people at every opportunity they get. When Covid-19 arrived, everybody ran to the Government first and the Government bailed them out. When farmers and the country were under pressure I saw prices going up in the supermarkets when there was no need for them to go up. It was a rip-off. To be fair to farmers, I do not know how they have sustained the costs over the past number of years. I know prices have increased but, by God, costs have really increased for them. Something needs to be done with these co-operatives. They have to play fair. In the good days they want farmers and in the bad days they want them but they sometimes forget that when farmers are in difficulty they should support them. I would like to say more but we have to leave for a vote.