Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is a clear outline of the process that is involved in making the decision, in terms of the Competition Authority. However, the key point is that as the national policy deviser or driver for the agricultural sector, my specific question is whether the Minister and his Department will be prepared to make a submission to the Competition Authority should a call be made for interested parties. Surely, the Department would be an interested party, particularly when one considers that this merger will give 29% of the beef kill control to AIBP, and 40% of the lamb kill. It is significant that 50% of the rendering business across the country will be under the control of a single operator if this takeover goes ahead.

I am sure there must be some policy concerns within the Department to see the concentration of control in one person's hands. If the Competition Authority makes a public call for submissions, will the Department make a submission on it?

See this speech in context