Coveney: I can't create artificial prices to protect farmers

The Minister for Agriculture said he can't influence the price processors and retailers pay farmers for their produce.

Farming groups are calling on Simon Coveney to intervene after a drop in the rates being paid by factories and major supermarkets.

Minister Coveney said creating artificial prices in Ireland is not an option. However, he also said farmers deserve a fair margin, and that the goal of price fairness is being worked on at a European level.

"Most Irish beef is consumed and purchased outside of Ireland. So I'm not going to be able to influence a retailer in Barcelona or Paris or Berlin to pay more for Irish beef, when they can source beef from elsewhere," he said.

"We need to be price competitive - we can't create artificial prices in Ireland."