Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion, as someone who has grown up on and lives on a beef farm. In recent months, as the marts went online, it has given a great in insight into what happens when farmers go to the mart. For example, on many days I had to write down the weight and the price that the cattle were getting during the bidding when I went to the mart. The farmer literally has to look at the price and take the decision as to whether to take them home or just let them go when the bid is well below the value of the cattle. Of course, it is different when they go to the factory because, once they are killed, the price is the price and the farmer has little say.

It is hard to watch farmers breaking their backs, day in, day out. The price of meal and fertiliser has gone up, and they are up day and night, calving cattle. Added to that is the pressure of inspections. I see my own dad and I know that, especially in recent months and years, he just wonders if it is worth it any more. He is not the only farmer to think that and, in fact, some farmers have already closed the gates. They give everything and then they see the factories do whatever they like and get away with it.

The Government is not doing enough. It is not taking enough action and these farmers need it to take action. As mentioned, the four-movement rule and the 30-month rule are perfect examples of that. The Government has washed its hands of that and said it is just commercial practice.

What we need is a beef regulator with teeth, and this has been said by farmers over and over again. I am at a loss as to what has changed because the Minister himself previously called for this. If the Government does not take action in regard to a beef regulator, more and more farmers will close their gates. It will literally be the end of a generation in farming the land because the young people will be gone. They will have no choice but to leave because there will be no income unless the Government takes action.

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