Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, who has responsibility for the Consumer Protection Commission, to ask the commission to examine the alleged price fixing among factories in the price of beef. This issue was referred to by Commissioner Hogan in Brussels last week and it is vitally important now that we have come to a parked resolution on the beef issue between farmers and beef factories that we look at the factories and determine if this alleged price fixing is taking place, thereby allaying the fears of farmers who are producing beef.

I am very disappointed with the decision by Ulster Bank to close its branch in Manorhamilton. It is closing 14 branches across the country but it is very disappointing for the people of Manorhamilton and north Leitrim in particular to lose the Ulster Bank branch, which has been in the town for more than 100 years. There was a lack of consultation with the people because many people in the area, farmers in particular, have been using the bank into which their single farm payment was paid. Payments to Health Service Executive workers also were paid into this bank but there was little consultation between the customers of the bank and its management on this close, which is very disappointing. I urge the people in the surrounding area to use the services of the other two banks in Manorhamilton, the credit union and the post offices because it is important to consolidate the business and keep it in the area.