Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I share the concerns raised about the farming protests that are taking place. We are in a terrible situation. Dublin city centre is in disarray with farmers protesting and people unable to go about their daily business and get to work in the city. Farmers feel desperate about prices and the terms and conditions they are being asked to operate under. We know that no problem will be solved on the streets. We all thought a solution or at least a formula for a solution was in place when it was agreed at the beginning of September to establish a beef market task force. Nothing has improved since and farmers are in exactly the same position. Many people will be frustrated by what is happening on the streets. There are even whispers suggesting people do not have much sympathy for farmers. If farmers are complaining and protesting, they have reason for doing so. This problem has been going on for far too long and we need a solution. Meat Industry Ireland can no longer sit back and take a laissez-faire approach.C&D Foods has taken out injunctions against a couple of people involved in the protests. It is incumbent on Meat Industry Ireland to get that matter off the table and get everybody talking.

We need to talk about price transparency, competition law issues and the fact that farmers are receiving a return that is below the cost of production. They are bearing the cost of the difficulties in the sector. I have not heard of any meat plants being in danger of going out of business but there are many farmers who are in such danger.