Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Beef Industry

Photo of Tom FlemingTom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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27. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress he has made in addressing the ongoing impasse on beef prices which have decimated farmers income; and the role that the beef forum has in the process. [35177/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the price paid to farmers for their animals by meat processing factories is a commercial transaction and neither I nor my Department has any influence on prices. I do, however, have an important role to play in providing strategic direction and investment support to the sector. I have previously referred to the strong commitment shown by this Government to the sector in terms of National and EU investment under the draft Rural Development Programme. The Government is also engaged in the strategic development of the sector including, as the deputy notes, through the Beef Forum.

I have chaired two meetings of the Beef Forum already this year and these have involved key stakeholders in the beef sector, including representatives from IFA, ICMSA, ICSA, MII, Teagasc and Bord Bia. The discussions have focused on recent developments in the sector and a series of actions proposed that will aid the viability of beef production.

The discussions have been fruitful so far and the following initiatives have emerged from them:

1. Mr Michael Dowling has made recommendations for the Sector around various headings such as improved transparency, communications and contracts

2. The Beef Pricewatch data available on my departments Website has been expanded and made more user friendly with the addition of a weekly meat market report.

3. I have committed to launching a Beef Pricewatch App for Smartphones and other mobile devices. This will make data on factory prices much more accessible to beef producers. My Department is currently in the final stages of developing this App and I intend to launch this very shortly.

4. My Department is currently engaged in public consultation on the possibility of legislating for POs in the Beef Sector. The Dowling report suggested that POs could bring about a new degree of professionalism in contract negotiations between producer and processor and help ensure a stability of supply.

5. Bord Bia has expanded its marketing budget for beef by €0.5m and this is aimed at targeting key markets throughout Europe for Irish Beef promotion.

I have committed to reconvening the Beef forum discussions on a quarterly basis. I see them as a good vehicle for constructive dialogue in the Sector and a forum in which real solutions can be found to help overcome the current difficulties and set out a roadmap for a sustainable future for beef farmers.

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