Ahern hears plea on piggeries

A delegation from the Irish Farmers Association met with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in West Cork yesterday and fully briefed him on what it sees as the impact of Dairygold Co-op’s decision to opt out of primary pig processing.

The co-op announced last month it was to cease pig slaughtering and boning activities at the Galtee plant in Mitchelstown and to close another facility in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, with a total loss of 270 jobs.

A spokesman for the IFA said it had outlined a detailed case to the Taoiseach, who undertook to refer the matter to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Fianna Fáil TDs Ned O’Keeffe (Cork East) and Brendan Smith (Cavan) introduced the delegation, headed by IFA deputy president Ruaidhri Deasy, general secretary Michael Berkery, Munster vice president Dónal Kelly, Pig Committee chairman Pat O’Keeffe and West Cork county chairman Chris Hayes.

Meanwhile, Labour TD Joe Sherlock (Cork East) called for further mediation before the Galtee plant in Mitchelstown is closed.

“What consideration is being given to workers, pig suppliers and the local Business Association?” he asked, noting that Dairygold had stated last year that pigmeat was profitable.