It is two months since the beef protesters came off the picket lines, which they did it because the Minister requested that they do so and because of his commitment to set up a beef task force, which he has not done. To date, the hundreds of farmers who are outside the gates of Leinster House have seen no task force, no improvement in price, and no delivery from the Minister. They want a commitment here today as to when the task force is actually going to meet.

I call Deputy Bobby Aylward to speak on the same issue.

I read the same thing and I emphasise that farmers are protesting today because they have being ignored since the strike ended. I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set up this task force as soon as possible. I know he had a hiccup the first time it tried to get going. Now he needs to emphasise that this needs to be set up as soon as possible. The price of beef is still on the ground, with €3.45 being quoted this week. Farmers will go to the wall unless something is done about it. All elements of farming need to be recognised because one will not get them all on board unless they are all recognised.

It is months since the farmers protested right around the country, and rightly so. They feel they have been let down by everybody, including by Government, by the Oireachtas and in particular by those setting beef prices. Interjections were made by everybody, and indeed my own party had two particular Bills on this. I honestly think that we helped to resolve the strike at that point in time. However, months have passed and nothing has happened or changed and no task force has been put in place. This is simply not good enough. The farmers are right to be here protesting and we need to support them fully.