Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Cuív can speak again later in the debate. I hope to be able to speak without interruption because I have just three minutes. At no time was €200 per cow the amount. It was announced as a payment of €200 but it was cut before it was ever paid, even during much better years. The country continues to face a deficit because we are not taking in more than we are spending by any means.

One would have to be deluded to think there is not a problem in the agriculture sector, the beef sector in particular. Policies pursued in agriculture and food by successive Governments, including Fianna Fáil Governments and this Government under the Minister's stewardship, have facilitated the manipulation of the market by large processors to the detriment of primary producers. Deputy Connaughton nailed it in his contribution because he said it is all about exports. The Minister announced some time ago that we have to maintain the level of live exports to keep the processors honest.

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