Vol. 514 No. 6
85 Ms Coughlan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when the market price transparency mechanism, with independent verification, will be introduced giving relevant information on market returns for beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4689/00]
The objective of the price transparency mechanism is to make available market price information relating to our main markets to enable an assessment to be made of the extent to which prices paid to producers satisfactorily reflect trends on these markets. The Government decision to establish a price transparency mechanism based on independent verification is being implemented through the monitoring committee on the task force which I set up last July to progress implementation of a number of recommendations of the beef task force. Sub stantial progress has already been made within this committee and I have asked that priority be given to finalising a mechanism soon.
The publication of prices on an individual plant basis has contributed to bringing greater transparency to the price situation.
