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

Whether the scope of the amendment is one line or ten lines, it still gives the regulator the powers we want to it to have. Those powers relate to anti-competitive practices. If these anti-competitive practices exist and the Minister believes they exist and the law to deal with them is already in place, why is nothing being done about them? If there is significant law in place and the CCPC has those powers, it has not done anything about it and clearly does not intend to do anything about it because we are still at the same point, particularly in the beef sector.

As I stated, much of this came about when farmers took to the factory gates. The big issue at that time was the lack of competition. That is not being dealt with in this legislation. If the CCPC is doing its job, then why are the farm stakeholders and organisations that came before the committee - the Minister referred to the high level of engagement - seeking for the regulator to have these powers? Why are the farm organisations and farmers on the ground asking for the regulator to have these powers if the law is there and working? It is clear that is not the case. The Minister should reconsider this. He has spoken many times about this legislation serving farmers and protecting farmers. There are issues relating to competition. Farmers are suffering as a result and that is why we want the regulator to have these powers. The Minister should reconsider his position.

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