Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

Has the Minister met with the meat plants? They are the problem. His Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will pay them €50 million in grant aid and give them work permits. This is nothing short of national sabotage by the meat plants that operate in Ireland and the UK. We have no problem exporting live bull beef to Italy, or calves to Holland but we have a problem getting our animals into the UK where the market is worth €1.7 billion. Is the Minister going to sit on his hands and talk to everybody but those responsible, the meat plants, the Goodman group, Dawn and Kepak, in particular? Will he meet the meat plants and tell them he will not pay the money they are getting under the meat investment-----

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