Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There have been protests outside our beef factories for as long as a month now. Men and women, the farmers of this country, have spent 24 hours of every day trying to get a simple message across, which is that they are working at a major loss which they cannot sustain. These people, whom I meet and speak with daily, are mystified as to why the Taoiseach and the leader of the main Opposition party have been silent throughout these protests. I ask the Taoiseach to personally intervene in this crisis and to fight for a proper base price for these farmers' cattle. The protection of the factory owners and large retailers in this country must end. This can be done if the Taoiseach comes out and supports these struggling farmers today.

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