Beef farmer protest
Bríd Smith raised the protesting farmers outside Leinster House and asked that all representative groups be included in the beef task force.
As we speak, farmers are once again gathering outside the gates. The plight they face in terms of the levels of poverty and the demise of rural Ireland have not gone away. After eight weeks of blockading meat production plants, they are back again to ask us to urgently deal with the issues. Will the Minister in charge of this area be inclusive of all farmer representative groups? I refer in particular to the independent farmers of Ireland group, which has regrouped and is ready to become part of the beef task force. It is also demanding, although I know it is not the role of the Cabinet, the lifting of all injunctions so that meaningful talks can take place in the beef task force. Can the Taoiseach give an indication as to whether all farmer representative groups will be included in these talks?