Farm leader warns of factory chaos
The Department of Agriculture and Food is going ahead with plans to withdraw cattle grading staff at the weekend ahead of the mechanical systems being fully installed.
It said this is in accordance with an agreed timetable with the industry and unions. It also pointed out that it had trained factory staff to a high standard in carcass grading and stressed that it will maintain a supervisory role in the plants, which should reassure the factories and farmers on any concerns they might have.
The processors maintained that the deadline was for the start of the installation of the machines, not the introduction of mechanical grading; that the staff were trained as an emergency back-up and not as replacements for the Department’s graders; and that the supervisory role would be very limited and was a red herring.
ICSA beef committee chairman Robin Smith said there is no point in the Department pulling its staff until all machines are in place as this would cause chaos.
At the same time the factories must not be allowed to stall the installation of machines.
Meat Industry Ireland, representing the processors, claims it will be another two months before the machines are fully installed and operational in the plants.
It said the Department’s intent to remove its graders from factories on Tuesday next is at variance with all publicly stated wishes of industry and farmers.
