Dire consequences warning

The IFA has warned of “dire consequences” facing the meat processing sector and farmers as a result of Government cutbacks on the disposal of meat and bone meal.

Livestock committee chairman Derek Deane said this week is crucial for the meat processing sector.

The increase in levies, charges and premium penalties being imposed by

Minister Joe Walsh and the Government on the livestock sector, and particularly winter finishers, had reached crisis point. He warned these will bankrupt a large number of winter finishers unless action is taken.

Mr Deane was speaking ahead of an IFA-organised meeting of livestock farmers in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, tonight.

He said a winter finisher with 100 cattle was facing an income cut of over €8,000 as a direct result of decisions by the minister and the Government.

In view of the high cost for meat and bone meal disposal in Ireland compared to other EU member states, the Government must continue to contribute to the cost of disposal, particularly the export element.

Mr Deane also called on the minister to remove a double beef premium penalty of €45 a head on winter finishers and demanded the country’s full national special beef premium back from Brussels.

He said the Abbeyleix meeting would address the income crises for winter finishers, the increase in levies and charges, the double special beef premium penalty and falling cattle prices.