THE MINISTER for Enterprise has been accused of “hiding behind regulators” by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), which is still angry over last week’s raid on its head office by Competition Authority personnel.
The IFA accused Richard Bruton of refusing to meet the 85,000- strong organisation to discuss legislation to curb the power of retail multiples and secure fair trade for farmers.
“Farmers are incensed that the Competition Authority saw fit to raid the offices of the Irish Farmers’ Association last Friday, given their utter failure to deal with the multiples who are the real culprits in the food supply chain,” said IFA president John Bryan.
“IFA sought a meeting with Minister Bruton as far back as March this year to discuss the Fair Trade Bill promised in the programme for government.”
A statement said that on the same day as the Competition Authority raided the Farm Centre, Mr Bryan received a letter saying the Minister was too busy to meet him, and had refused again this week to meet the IFA president.
“The failure of regulation across a number of areas has played a significant part in the destruction of our economy,” Mr Bryan said. “The Competition Authority is not fit for purpose as it has failed to deal with the inequity in the food supply chain.”
He added: “Farmers will see last week’s charade as the Competition Authority targeting the vulnerable instead of tackling the imbalance in the food supply chain.
“What is needed is effective policy that takes on the multiples and delivers fair trade rules for farmers.”
Mr Bryan said Mr Bruton must now pursue the fair trade legislation that featured strongly in Fine Gael’s election manifesto.