Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I share colleagues' frustration with the deadlock on the beef market task force. Farmers are agitated and disappointed, as are Senators and Deputies. I welcome the decision by the Minister, Deputy Creed, to meet with the protestors, but the situation still requires urgent resolution. The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association has expressed serious concerns in regard to Bord Bia, the beef prices index and the difficulties in breaking through the deadlock with the meat factories. These serious problems must be addressed. As Senator Mulherin said, we want farmers out of the city and back on the land where they want to be, doing what they do best. It is important to keep cool heads as we work to get the task force up and running as quickly as possible.

There was reference on "Morning Ireland" today to a leaked report indicating that county and city councillors will receive a pay rise of €8,000. The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, confirmed at an Oireachtas committee meeting earlier today that the review of local authority members' remuneration has not been completed and, as such, the reports of a specific pay increase are not accurate. He indicated that he saw a draft of the report some months ago and that he made a submission on it two months ago. Ms Sarah Moorhead SC was commissioned in June 2018 to conduct the review but has still not completed her work and made a comprehensive report. We are no further on in the matter, although I welcome the indication by the Minister of State that when the report is published, which could possible be in ten days' time, he will publish it immediately.