As stated in my reply given on 18 September, the ownership of each beef processing plant is a commercial matter for individuals or companies who wish to invest in the industry. Currently there are 32 beef slaughtering plants approved to export from Ireland to local, EU and third country markets and over 195 local authority approved plants that may export locally or to the EU. The details (names/addresses etc) of all of the approved plants are on the websites of my Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Prices are a function of the market conditions that prevail at a given time. I cannot set the price of beef and neither can any other Minister for agriculture in the EU. There is no evidence whatsoever that department policy or practice contributes to price fixing or cartel practices. Indeed my Department publishes prices for each factory on a weekly basis and earlier this week launched a Beef Pricewatch app, available on phones and other smart devices to increase transparency in relation to beef prices.
With regard to any suspected manipulation of the market, I would ask the Deputy to bring forward any information or evidence she has in this regard to the Competition Authority of Ireland who has the power to investigate such matters. The Competition Authority is an independent statutory body that enforces Irish and European competition law in Ireland. Its mission is ‘to ensure that markets work well for Irish consumers, business and the economy’. It does this by taking action against anti-competitive practices (e.g. price-fixing) and by blocking anti-competitive business mergers. It also has a role in promoting competition in the economy by identifying legislative restrictions on competition, advising the Government on the implications for competition of proposed legislation, and by providing general information about competition issues.
