Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)

Today I raise an issue once again that, unfortunately, affects the farming community. This week, four of our major supermarkets have decided to have a price war regarding the price of milk. This sector, where farmers produce liquid milk, has seen 43% of liquid milk producers leaving in the last ten years, which is highly worrying. We have seen costs increase.We have seen outputs decrease. I urge these four retailers to move away from the Irish farming sector. If they want a price war, move it into the coffee industry or somewhere it does not affect homegrown produce or the farmers of this country. The housewives of all these farmers shop in these supermarkets.

I urge that, if the price war is not stood down in the next ten days, the people of rural Ireland boycott these supermarkets and not do the shopping there. Then they would realise the people and the farmers have a voice and that we support the farmers in this country. I urge the four retailers, and everybody knows who they are, to stand down their price war. This is having a major effect on fresh milk produce. Co-ops have been reducing the prices for September and October. I urge the supermarkets to move the war somewhere else before the war is moved to their door.