Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister of State not find it strange that they start closing the door when the horse has bolted? Why have post-event consultation rather than pre-event consultation? Why not work with the stakeholders and have a consultation with them to work through this? Unless I have gone bonkers altogether, if the cost of rendering rises due to the removal of the current competition and at the same time the Department is stipulating the maximum collection price for adult bovines, which I have set out, that will result in a loss of profitability for knackeries unless they pass on an increased collection price for animals under 48 months old to farmers. There will definitely be a price increase because that is the nature of business. I am a socialist who likes to help businesses to survive, but this is an inevitable result in the competitive marketplace. I cannot understand the policy.

Will the Minister of State review it after three months rather than six months? That might be a reasonable compromise. Hopefully, the Animal Collectors Association and the various other people involved will get a positive hearing from the Department's officials. The Department should not embark on this route in the future. It should work with people in a consultative manner and work together to ensure that what everybody wishes to achieve is achieved.

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