Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, should ask farmers whether they are having an especially good time. In fact, as we speak, the Irish Farmers Association is conducting a protest - the second in recent weeks - outside the office of the Minister, Deputy Coveney. Those farmers are deeply unhappy with his performance. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, can say what he wants in this House but he is not fooling the people. Direct payments to farmers have decreased by 10% in the past three years. It is not a particularly good time for farmers.

I asked the Minister what specifically the Minister, Deputy Coveney, is doing on the labelling issue. The problem is that cattle reared here and finished in the North are now considered to be nomadic cattle, neither Irish nor British. This is causing a huge problem because supermarkets are not buying beef unless it is reared and slaughtered in the same country. It is time the three Ministers got together and resolved the issue. There was always a trade between the two parts of this island - indeed, it would be extraordinary if there was not - with large numbers of cattle, particularly on the west coast, taken to the North for slaughter. The person sitting beside the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, will be able to tell him exactly how this issue is affecting farmers seeking to sell their cattle.

Will the Minister indicate what the Government is doing to deal with the labelling issue? Second, when will the legislation on the producer organisations be brought to the House by the Minister, Deputy Coveney? That legislation would be a major help to beef producers, livestock producers in general and liquid milk producers who need producer organisations to be allowed legally to protect their interests.

See this speech in context