Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. The unfortunate reality is that he has allowed the beef forum to become little more than a talking shop. That is reflected by the fact that instead of being at the beef forum, around the table with the Minister and the factories, the farming organisations were outside protesting at how they are being squeezed, pressurised and taken advantage of through the price they are getting at the factory. While prices have increased across the Irish Sea in recent weeks, they have been decreasing here, to the extent that prices are now dropping below €3.80 and €3.75 per kilogram, with further downward pressure on them. That is simply unacceptable. The last time this beef forum met was in February 2017. The Minister was not planning on having the meeting until the end of this month. Three weeks ago, I called for it to be brought forward and dealt with immediately. Thankfully, the Minister decided to do that it was but too late. Why did the Minister not meet representatives of the meat factories during the summer drought to ensure they would not take advantage of it? Unfortunately we have seen talks, discussions and considerations but no real action or delivery for the farmers. I ask the Minister to clarify the particular actions that were agreed. Moreover, how did he hold the factories to account for the fact that they are offering lower prices to farmers at a time when they simply cannot afford it?

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