Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Dialogue and serious dialogue are two different things. I cannot understand why the two Ministers on this island cannot resolve this issue. The people who are most affected by this are the smaller beef producers on the west coast. Traditionally, buyers from the Six Counties bought the cattle and that trade benefited everybody. It does not make sense that the two Ministers cannot resolve this. They need to sit down and resolve it.

This is the second day that there have been protests outside Government Buildings regarding the situation and the Minister. There is a lack of confidence in the Minister on the part of the farming community because he is not addressing the problems. Perhaps his mind is elsewhere but he certainly needs to address the problems and to give his full attention to the issues affecting Irish farmers, including nomadic cattle and bull beef. The people who are affected are those on lower incomes and they need support and leadership. This leadership must be forthcoming from the Government and Minister. I am sorry to say that the Minister is not acting accordingly.

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