A private members motion being tabled this week on establishing an independent regulator for the beef sector is "a real chance" for politicians to support farmers.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 26), the Rural Independent Group will bring forward the motion which, among other things, calls on the government to:

Speaking to Agriland ahead of tomorrow, leader of the Rural Independent Group Mattie McGrath said that there has been "no motivation" over "the last 40 years" to regulate the beef industry.

"I've seen incremental takeover of the small plants, they were just gobbled; I think it's disgusting the way things are operating now," Tipperary TD McGrath said.

"We want an independent regulator with teeth and who is fearless."

The deputy said that the beef industry has significant "pull", leading to little appetite existing among policymakers to change things.

"The treatment of workers and prices are no longer the main focuses for these factories," the deputy continued.

"Farmers were forced to go outside the factories for weeks on end because of this. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil politicians turned up to protests to support the farmers, but now they have a real chance to support them.

"They can support our motion and speak and vote in favour of it, and assure the farmers on the ground who they are supporting - are they in with the moguls or are they on the side of the farmers?

"These farmers up at 3:00a.m in the morning calving and rearing and trying to deal with the weather we have - they want a fair price and a bit of respect for what they're doing."

Tomorrow, the public consultation on the primary legislation needed to establish a new Office of a National Food Ombudsman or regulator closes.

The new office will have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said he wants the national food ombudsman to “bring a greater level of transparency to all parts of the supply chain”.

However, the rural independents in their motion are calling on the government to "accept that a national food ombudsman will not be able to give the kind of specific sectoral focus needed to identify and address the chronic price challenges imposed on farmers by the beef industry".