Call for halt in aid to meat processors

THE Government has been urged to stop paying €50 million grant aid to Irish meat processors who are allegedly blocking Irish live cattle exports to Britain.

Fine Gael agriculture and food spokesperson, Michael Creed TD, accused the major Irish meat processors, operating in both Ireland and Britain, of sabotaging the Irish beef market by blocking live exports.

He said the Government should stop paying processors the €50m from the Meat Investment Fund until such behaviour is ended.