The government’s refusal to carry out an independent review of the operation of the beef processing sector in Ireland has been described as “deeply disappointing” by independent TD Denis Naughten.
Raising the issue in the Dáil recently, deputy Naughten said that a motion calling on the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to request the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to carry out a market study and analysis on the nature and scale of consumer and beef farmer issues in the beef market and make recommendations had received unanimous support.
However, the Roscommon-Galway TD said:
“To date this has not been implemented as Minister of State, Robert Troy, on behalf of the government, is saying that the CCPC has already considered complaints about the operation of the beef sector and found no evidence of anti-competitive practices.
As someone who submitted such a complaint to the CCPC with regard to the operation of feedlots, I’m fully aware of the difficulty in providing documentary evidence of anti-competitive practices and that is why we need the CCPC to do a broad independent review of the industry rather than waiting for a whistle-blower to come forward.
Continuing, Naughten said: “Every farmer in this country believes that a monopoly is operating in the offal sector. That has a controlling influence on the kill in this country.
“It is imperative that we have a separate independent inquiry and it should not be dependent on farmers finding evidence.
“What Dáil Éireann called for in September 2019 is a complete independent review of the operation of the meat industry in Ireland, separate from all of the interested parties which can make clear recommendations on how this sector should operate in future.
We have had enough tinkering at the edges by the Beef Taskforce, whose work I’ve no doubt will be positive, but ultimately will not alter the margin the farmer receives.
“Let no-one forget this is the very body which agreed to an application for PGI status for Irish beef which is not exclusively based on the suckler sector.
“We need someone from outside like the CCPC who can compile a detailed independent assessment of the functioning of the market and make evidence-based recommendations as to how the government may address the current issues in the beef sector.
“If the industry is operating as it should, what has government to worry about? Why will it not follow through on what was unanimously agreed 15 months ago?” Naughten concluded.