Production restarts but fear of rising meat dispute
Production was resuming today at six meat processing plants which were at the centre of a nationwide protest by farmers.
However, fears are already growing that the dispute will escalate next week, with pickets extended to other plants.
Hundreds of farmers withdrew from the picket lines last night after protesting at factories owned by the country’s largest beef processor, Anglo Irish Beef Processors (AIBP), at what they claimed were unfair cuts in the prices paid for livestock.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and producers are to meet informally at the country’s National Ploughing Championships over the next three days in Co Laois.
However, if no compromise is reached, the IFA is expected to extend the protest to plants other than AIBP-controlled premises next week.
IFA president John Dillon said the original protest was the first stage in a more intensive campaign to secure viable prices for livestock farmers.
“Cattle farmers are determined to expose the unjustified beef price cuts of the last eight to 10 weeks by the factories and secure a reasonable return for their livestock,” he said.
The pickets, which began at 8pm on Sunday night and ran until 4pm yesterday, caused the halting of slaughter at meat factories in Nenagh and Cahir in Co Tipperary, Bandon in Co Cork, Rathkeale in Co Limerick, Clones in Co Monaghan and Waterford.
The IFA, which backed the action, said farmers could not afford to sell animals at current prices.
However, AIBP and other processors rejected the IFA claims that prices are down on last year and said the demonstrations could cause long term damage to the industry.
The Irish Meat Association (IMA), which represents meat processors, accused the IFA of misleading farmers into believing that artificially high cattle prices can be sustained.
