Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I agree with many of the sentiments of this Fianna Fáil Private Members' motion. However, I do not support the two paragraphs which refer to a lack of Government action on the issue and complete failure to address farmers' concerns and the need for a beef regulator in terms of oversight of the industry. Despite the many good things said about the Minister by Members of the Opposition, including that he is doing a great job, this opportunistic motion has been tabled. We did not hear much from Fianna Fáil in 2008 when milk prices collapsed to 18 cent per litre. As I said, this is an opportunistic motion.

I listened to what Senator Ó Clochartaigh had to say. He believes that the Minister should every week set the price of beef to be paid by the factories.