Leo Varadkar has defended the Government's agriculture policies in the wake of the massive farmers' protests in Dublin city centre this morning.
He said the Government worked hard to ensure farmers were treated well and that they got good prices both at home and abroad for beef and other produce.
But he said that he and his ministers can't control the price of beef, but that there is a series of financial supports now available for struggling farmers.
He claimed credit for the Government for making this happen.
The Taoiseach was speaking to reporters in the Marker Hotel in Grand Canal Dock, as, less than a mile away, the city's traffic had ground to a halt because of the ongoing tractor blockade by protesting farmers.
Mr Varadkar told the Irish Daily Mirror: "We're doing what we can, but we also need to be honest with farmers about what we can't do, and that is, increase the beef price."
He added: "I understand the anger that beef farmers have, about why the beef prices are low, and have been for such a long period, and I understand the frustration."
Hundreds of farmers rolled into Dublin with around 100 tractors and 4x4s yesterday to protest over beef prices.
Traffic in the city centre was at a standstill last night as protesters and their fleet of tractors were halted by a Garda barricade at Kildare Street.
The activists demanded Minister Michael Creed meet them for talks, however, it wasn't until this morning (Wednesday) that Mr Creed met with delegates in the lobby of the Department of Agriculture, just metres from the frontline of the angry protesters.
