Vol. 515 No. 6
106 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to introduce regulations to ensure that all meat factories erect a chart in their plants detailing deductions and the reason for and value of these deductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6566/00]
While the application of deductions by meat factories is a matter between individual meat plants and their suppliers, there is a need for greater transparency within the overall payments arrangement.
To bring this about, my Department now provides on a weekly basis the prices paid by individual meat factories. The Government has also set up a committee to look at alleged anti-competitive practices within the beef sector.
Greater transparency, including that related to market prices as well as to deduction from the total price paid to producers, is not only essential to a building of trust and partnership within the industry but is also fundamental to the future development of the sector.
