Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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791. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken to tackle falling beef prices in view of the fact that beef prices have fallen far behind UK beef prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39776/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Beef prices are a function of demand and supply, and a range of other cost factors, including currency relativities, along the supply chain. They are not controlled by Government.

The beef price in Great Britain (GB) is currently 63c/kg (15%) higher than the equivalent Irish price for R3 steers (data w/c 16/11/20). For the full year to date, the GB price has on average been 10% higher than the equivalent Irish price. There are a variety of reasons why prices in different markets may not be readily comparable, including degree of self sufficiency, consumer preference and seasonal factors.

Bord Bia’s beef market tracker includes a comparison of a prime Irish composite price with a comparative export benchmark price based on a weighted average of our key export markets. This shows, for week ending 21 November, that the Irish composite price for prime cattle (€3.55/kg) was 8c lower than the export benchmark price. Taking the full year to date data, the average Irish composite price for prime cattle (€3.54) was 1c lower than the export benchmark comparator.

This tracker was put in place as a result of the work of Beef Market Task Force and provides an additional measure of transperancy in relation to beef prices, which is critically important. The Task Force has also commissioned Grant Thornton to conduct a series of market transparency studies. I am due to convene a meeting of the Taskforce in the coming weeks.

A key component of the Programme for Government is the establishment of a Food Ombudsman. I am now considering how best to bring this forward in consultation and will be consulting with industry on this. I am also considering how to include price transparency and reporting as part of its functions.

The core support for the beef sector under the current RDP is the €300 Million Beef Data and Genomics Programme. In addition to this support, over the last two years, over €200 million of additional supports was made available specifically to the beef sector, including the BEAM and BEEP schemes in 2019, and the Beef Finishers Payment and BEEP-S this year.

I can assure the deputy that my Department is constantly monitoring the market situation for all agricultural commodities, including beef.