Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We understand that the Minister cannot dictate the price. It is not something that a Government can control or decide, but what the Minister can do is hold the meat factories to account. He can also ensure that there is transparency in the pricing system and the price that farmers are getting. Unfortunately he has been doing neither of those things. He is simply throwing his hands in the air, not using his position to maximum capacity by holding the meat factories to account and ensuring a light is shone on their treatment of farmers and the prices they offer. Why is there a significant price gap with the UK which has been increasing in recent months? Why is it that in recent weeks, the gap between European prices and Irish prices has diverged so much? These are issues on which the Minister has failed to hold the factories to account. When the drought was impacting during the summer, the Minister failed to maximise his influence to tell the factories that under no circumstances could they take advantage of farmers and profiteer on the pressure they were under. It is time for the Minister to take more control of this interaction and ensure transparency. In light of the explanations he has been given, what has he decided to do and what actions will he take in his engagement with the factories in the coming weeks?

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