Minister urged to solve cattle price dispute

AFTER some 200 hours of farmer protests outside meat processing plants, there was no sign this week of settlement in the cattle price row.

Farmers protested at five plants last Sunday night AIBP at Cahir and Nenagh; Dawn Meats at Grannagh in Waterford and Rathdowney, Co Laois; and Kepak at Athleague, Co Roscommon. The protest continued around the clock until Tuesday afternoon.

Fine Gael called on Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh to mediate. Agriculture spokesman Billy Timmins, TD, said escalation would stop the slaughter of 40,000 cattle and could cost the economy 2 million per week.

"This will have a devastating effect on the livelihoods of livestock farmers. Given the current state of the economy, surely this is a gamble the Minister cannot take," he said.

IFA president John Dillon said he was available for talks and ultimately, the issue would have to be resolved through negotiation. He said the Minister has a central role as an honest broker.

Irish Meat Association chief executive John Smith said the price of cattle is a matter for negotiation between each farmer and a factory. He said the Minister had made it clear he would consider it inappropriate to get involved in centralised negotiations on cattle prices. He said the Competition Authority is keeping a close eye on the situation.