Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

For eight weeks during the summer, the Independent Farmers of Ireland, their wives and families protested outside the gates of meat plants because they were devastated by the price they were continually getting. It is not business as usual with the Government and the so-called task force because, first, the Taoiseach appointed the former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who I believe is not independent, as head of it. Second, the Minister refused to meet Independent Farmers of Ireland, 600 of whom met in Athlone this night last week, and sent three representatives. Even worse, I asked the Taoiseach here last week about the injunctions against a Fine Gael councillor and two others in Longford, which have not been lifted. They were told the night of the agreement they all signed up to that all threats of court action would be lifted immediately. Are the beef plants going to dictate, day and night, and ignore what was agreed in Kildare, overseen by the Minister? They have had their way for 40 years. Time has changed. They have been found out in the practices they are undertaking. We discussed a motion on the living wage in the House last night for two hours. Give the beef farmers a living wage so that they and the industry can survive and cut out this codology and this cartel.

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