Factory protest by farmers is extended to three days

THE relationship between meat factories and farmers has worsened with the announcement of further escalation of protests at meat factories which will halt slaughtering at those factories for most of next week.

The Irish Meat Association said that it was “shocked and very disappointed” at the decision by farmers to picket at five factories for three days during the coming week, which “is now very damaging for factories and farmers”, on the week of the major international SIAL Food Fair in Paris.

The AIBP factories at Nenagh and Cahir, Dawn Meats factories at Ballaghadereen and Waterford, and Kepak at Clonee will be picketed from Tuesday evening until Friday afternoon in the fifth week of action.