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

The Government could start by regulating the trade. If it does not do so, those in the industry will continue to do what they want. The people in question are not interested in what is good for Irish producers or farmers. They are only interested in what they can put into their own pockets and in making profits for their shareholders. They do not give a goddamn about producers and never have done so. They continue to get away with what they are doing. It is time the Government grew a pair of balls and stood up to them. It is time the Government took them on and said "Enough is enough". Everyone in this House knows the identity of the main individual involved in this regard. He continues to get away with doing what he has done for many years. He is one of the main people responsible for manipulating the market. Nothing is being done about that manipulation.

We need to take action to protect the producers and farmers to whom I refer in order that they might continue to earn viable incomes and live in rural areas. It will not be done by engaging in round-table talks. Such talks are nothing more than a circus whereby the people who manipulate the markets send in their PR people to put their spin on it. They have done the very same thing on each occasion they have come before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We want them to come before the committee individually, and our Chairman, Deputy Doyle - who is very good at his job - is prepared to try to facilitate this. We want to be able to sit across the table from these individuals, look them in the eye and challenge them to justify their behaviour.

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