Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I share the concern that the margin available to primary producers from the final sale price of food has been getting slimmer. That is a concern I share with Phil Hogan and I have spoken about it many times. However, I have also been honest with people, unlike other people. I have said that this issue has to be dealt with at a European level. If Ireland starts introducing heavy-handed laws in Ireland alone, retailers will simply source produce somewhere else - that is the reality. Therefore, at a European level, we need to try to ensure that primary producers get a fairer share of the final price in terms of the margin. That would be good across all sectors, not only the beef sector, and I am fully supportive of the Commission efforts to do that.

I do not accept Deputy Ó Cuív's accusation that the beef reform is toothless. The beef forum was never supposed to negotiate price. Legally, it is not allowed to negotiate price but Deputy Ó Cuív seems to ignore legality when it suits him politically to do so.

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