The Agriculture Minister has strenuously rejected claims by a Tipperary TD that there are meat cartels operating in the country.
Simon Coveney was responding to Priority Questions put forward by Deputy Mattie McGrath in the Dail today who demanded that the Minister take real action to address farmers concerns over the price they get for beef from the processors.
Its already lead to two blockades at factories nationwide including Nenagh Roscrea and Cahir and round table talks are taking place today between the industry and the IFA to try and resolve the issues.
However Deputy McGrath claims they will come to nothing if the Minister doesn't address what he alleges is the core issue and is calling for the Competition Authority to further examine a possible cartel operating between factories.
However this was strongly rejected by Minister Coveney who challenged Deputy McGrath to deliver proof of his claims.
The Agriculture Minister says he cannot intervene and set the price of beef.
Simon Coveney says he has no power to set a price if farmers cannot reach a deal with meat processors.
