A motion introduced by Fianna Fáil TDs calls for increased transparency in beef pricing, including a beef market price index and a Government commitment to "examine the feasibility with stakeholders of requiring processors to report wholesale prices on a regular basis".

The motion seen by the Irish Farmers Journal also urges more robust measures around carcase trim and grading, including publishing details of on-the-spot fines for factories breaching EU carcase trimming rules.

All animals from a quality-assured farm should receive some level of bonus payment and the QPS grid should be reviewed, the text adds.

Brexit threat

As "Brexit poses one of the biggest ever threats to the beef sector for suckler farmers," Fianna Fáil cites the Irish Farmers Journal estimate of a potential drop in price to €2.50/kg in a no-deal scenario.

The Government should "immediately request Brexit mitigation funding for farmers" under existing EU rules on market disturbance, the opposition TDs argue.

The motion is highly critical of the Government, blaming it for "insufficient urgency" in tackling lairage capacity issues in France for calf exports and slamming An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's recent comments about his own meat consumption.

Producer organisations

With no producer organisations yet registered in the beef sector, Fianna Fáil wants to see increased incentives to set them up and a consultation with stakeholders to understand the barriers to their establishment.

The motion also rejects any increased beef access in a potential Mercosur trade deal and renews calls for a €200/cow suckler premium voted in a previous motion last year.

The Dáil will debate the non-binding motion on Wednesday and vote on it on Thursday.

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