Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will intervene with the major beef factory processors to ensure reasonable price structures for producers; if he will investigate the widely held view that price fixing by processors is widespread and that an identified processor, formally monopolising the Irish beef processing industry, is now attempting to suppress Irish beef prices in its UK factories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43196/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The determination of prices is a function of demand and supply forces in the marketplace and is a matter for agreement between individual beef processors and their suppliers. My Department has no role to play in these commercial transactions, nor can it intervene to alter the terms of business relationships in a particular industry.

In relation to allegations concerning collusion by meat plants in fixing prices, I would advise anyone with evidence to substantiate such claims that they forward it directly to the Competition Authority for investigation. Similarly, information concerning the conduct of any beef processor operating in the UK should be brought to the attention of the competent authorities in that jurisdiction.