Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The Fine Gael Party agrees to the Order of Business. I am grateful to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, for agreeing to come before the House to take this important debate.

I raise an issue related to consumer rights and the rights of farmers. As the Acting Leader will be aware given his expertise in this area, lamb farmers in the past week experienced a reduction of 20% in the price per head of lamb brought to meat factories. It is astonishing that the meat factories announced a 20% reduction in price throughout the country on one day. Would it not be appropriate for the Competition Authority to launch a major investigation into what appears to be a cartel operating in the meat industry?

Despite the 20% reduction in lamb prices paid by the factories, consumers will not pay a reduced price for lamb and, most important, French companies which import the product from Ireland will not see a reduction in price. Will the Government consider launching a major investigation into this area through the Competition Authority because consumers and farmers will lose out? It is not right that this price reduction can take effect throughout the country on a single day. As a competitive issue affecting the future of the agricultural sector, the matter should be investigated without delay.