Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While C&D Foods was not party to the negotiations, and I understand that, the ABP Food Group has influence with C&D Foods because they are related companies. I ask the Minister to lift the phone to the CEO of ABP to ask it to get that injunction lifted. I agree with the Minister that the talks need to happen and that is the place to sort it out. It is important to accept that all disputes are sorted out by negotiation. However, there was a commitment in that agreement back in September that all legal proceedings would be lifted and withdrawn. The Minister might answer the question on Bord Bia developing the market price index because it is important.

The agreement dealt with very basic demands. The vast majority of farmers accepted the deal in good faith but the Department has failed so far to deal with the issue of the injunctions. I ask the Minister to pick up the phone and ask the CEO of ABP to use its influence to have them lifted. It is taking offal from that company and it is a related company with huge influence, so it is important that this is done. We need to get the talks back up and running; that is the key issue. We need to get people around the table to resolve the issues.

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