Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Stanley. On the Deputy's point that participants have been unable to sell the deal and that talks should be reconvened, I do not believe that to be the case. My Department and I have been facilitators of the dialogue on both occasions, in Backweston and, more recently, in Agriculture House last weekend. The fact that seven different farm organisations - the IFA, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, INHFA, the Beef Plan Movement, Macra na Feirme and the Independent Farmers of Ireland - after long negotiations were in a position to put their hand up, state they supported this deal and would recommend it to the picket line is a significant statement of itself that here one has the collective negotiating power of the farming community. Unless we become bound to the last man standing on the picket, this represents the best negotiated way forward. There are obligations on both sides. There is a quid pro quoin terms of the legal proceedings. The way forward is through getting this deal over the line now. I urge people to read it and to give it serious consideration. Time is of the essence. Real, serious irreversible damage is now being done to the industry and I urge everybody involved to consider it.

On Deputy Stanley's Bill, one of the commitments in the agreement is to look at best practice in transparency models internationally. The model which Deputy Stanley has advanced is similar in detail to Part 59 of the US code of regulations but we will look at all models and codes. That is one of the commitments.

That code that he has produced works in a wholesale market in the US. The model in Europe is very different, with third country exports and different circumstances. We look at best practice internationally to see what might be done. Indeed, it is not the case that one operator controls the offal sector here. That is the purpose of having a beef market task force. It will be able to set its own agenda to examine the issues. There is equipment to examine a number of the issues that have been raised as alleged anti-competitive practices in the deal. The task force will be able to investigate and take next steps as it sees appropriate.

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