Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This issue was debated at length last night. There have been two rounds of negotiated talks and last weekend an agreement was reached between seven organisations and the meat industry. It needs to be allowed a chance to work. As I said here last night, we need everybody to take a step back from the brink, to take a leap of faith, and to try to develop a level of trust that would allow the mechanisms and component parts of this agreement to work. As the Deputy knows, it is not legally possible for the Taoiseach, the Minister, or anyone else here to discuss price, but we have approved the first producer organisation, and we hope to approve many more. These can discuss pricing in a calm environment. If farmers get together they will be in a position of strength to influence the direction of this industry. I ask everybody to accept what was decided and agreed over the weekend and to give it a chance to work. It is the best chance we have for the future of this industry.

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