There is little doubt that Minister Simon Coveney’s interview this morning on RTÉ Radio 1 will only fuel farmers’ anger at his lack of commitment to addressing the issue of the beef crisis.

He appeared to defend the price cuts and almost belittle them, stating that it was only a 10% cut and it was reflective of the market across Europe. Perhaps more surprisingly was the Minister’s willingness to dump the Food Harvest 2020 beef targets, of which he has placed so much emphasis on, blaming the decline in prices on a 15% increase in beef production. Yet, the Minister’s own outlook for the industry is to increase production substantially more than this.

Unfortunately Minister Coveney appears to be riding two horses.

What will anger farmers most is that he defended the price cuts and failed to address the fact - and it is the key scenario in this debate - that beef prices have fallen between 10% and 25%, leaving farmers’ margins on the floor. The Minister appears more willing to defend the processors and the retailers rather than taking on the challenge of defending farmers.

It is simply not acceptable for him to say “show me the evidence” in terms of a lack of price competition in the beef processing sector. The Minister, with the resources of his Department, must take on the challenge of fully investigating the industry in terms of price competition.

It is clear from the factory prices leagues, published every week in the Irish Farmers Journal, that factories tend to move in unison.

He is also wrong to say that factory specifications have not changed. Factory specs have changed. That is a fact. Everyone in the industry accepts this, apart from the processors and now, even more surprisingly, Minister Coveney.

Twelve months ago, farmers were being paid premiums for heavy carcasses. They are now being inflicted with severe penalties that are effectively crushing the market and their Minister is willing to go on national radio to defend these cuts. This is simply not acceptable.

Minister Coveney’s interview this morning will, perhaps, only go to serve the belief among farmers that he is the Minister for factories and not for farmers.

“Farmers taken by surprise on spec issues” - Read Minister Coveney’s comments here.