Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 February 2014
525. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor variations in the prices paid to beef farmers here compared with those prevailing in the UK and other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6860/14]
View answerMarket conditions in the beef and cattle sector are monitored on an on-going basis by my Department. Under Regulation 1249/2008, DG AGRI of the European Commission receives beef carcass prices from all Member States, including Ireland on a weekly basis. The European Commission chairs a Management Committee on Animal Products and the trends and variations in cattle prices are outlined on a monthly basis.
The information supplied at the management meeting includes details of prices paid in each EU Member State as well as information on the level of imports into and exports from the European Union, for all meat products (beef, pigs, poultry, and sheep) on an ongoing basis. Officials of my Department attend these management committee meetings. In addition, Bord Bia issues a weekly commentary on cattle prices and supply and demand trends in our main export markets including the United Kingdom.
While my Department has a role in monitoring and reporting on cattle prices I have no function in relation to commercial transactions between meat factories and their suppliers. Rather this is the responsibility of the industry – processors and farmers working together – to manage the type and volume of cattle brought to market so that the supply chain operates for the benefit of both parties.
