Beef prices and farm incomes
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae raised collapsing beef and suckler prices and the impact on farmers’ incomes. The Taoiseach said he was not responsible for beef prices but the Minister of State would meet farm organisations in Kerry.
The protection of farmers' incomes featured strongly in the programme for Government. Farmers' incomes, however, are now at a new low. The price for sucklers and beef is at a new low. Can the Taoiseach explain why beef or cattle make more in the North of Ireland or on mainland England while at the same time we are being told that beef is coming into Germany and Italy in return for those countries being allowed to sell cars in Argentina and Brazil? Is the beef coming in from South America and is it competing with our Irish farmers? What is wrong that the price of beef is so low in the 26 counties? What is happening? There is only a ditch between us and the North of Ireland.
