Seanad debates

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

2:55 pm

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to ask the Leader for an urgent debate on the crisis facing farmers, in the beef industry in particular. It is mind-boggling to see our counterpart farmers in the UK getting a substantially greater price than that being obtained in this country. I raised this in the House several months ago. At that stage, I made the accusation that there is a cosy cartel giving the two fingers to the Minister and to farmers in this country.

I applaud the IFA and other farming organisations, which are protesting publicly about this issue. It is an extremely serious issue. The goal-posts keep changing. There was a huge push less than two years ago to produce bully beef at 20 months old but that has now been reduced to 16 months and even 14 months. The huge multinational supermarkets are driving that and are dictating the pace. Our massive cattle slaughtering set-up controls the situation. The real losers here are the farmers, whether suckler cow farmers or people dedicated to beef. It even has a knock-on effect on the dairy industry and it is doing huge damage.

I will not propose an amendment to the Order of Business today but I promise the Leader that if the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not come to the House soon to discuss this issue, which I have raised previously, then I will come in here with all guns blazing and, from tomorrow on, will call votes every day.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.