Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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371. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that a clear message goes from Government to the multiples that an adequate price needs to be paid, without delay, to pig and poultry primary producers in view of the difficulties facing those sectors at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48958/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Farmers should be adequately rewarded for the work they put into ensuring that Irish food has an assurance of quality, safety and taste.

In general, retail multiples do not purchase pig meat or poultry meat directly from farmer suppliers, but from meat processing companies. Prices paid to farmers or charged to consumers are not controlled by Government and are, obviously, subject to market demands.

It is, critically important that operators along the supply chain recognise their mutual dependency. Farmers are small businesses and are vulnerable to price volatility. They need to make a reasonable economic return for their output if the supply of high quality pigmeat and poultry is to be maintained.

It is critically important that farm families and food producers are treated fairly. The establishment of the Office for Fairness and Transparency in the Agri-Food Supply Chain is one of my priorities as Minister, and I am confident it will be an advocate and provide a voice for farmers, fishers, growers and other food businesses all along the agricultural and food supply chain.

I am pleased to have announced this week that the recruitment process for the CEO of the new Office has begun. By having the competition in parallel with the legislative process, I want to ensure that the Office is up and running as early as possible.