Meat plant row likely to be resolved

A dispute that threatened to disrupt processing at meat factories next week is likely to be called off.

It followed a decision last evening by the Department of Agriculture and Food to continue paying subsidies to the meat rendering industry until the end of May.

The IFA was expected to accept the proposal at a meeting in Portlaoise late last night.

As a result, the planned withdrawal of cattle and sheep supplies by farmers from meat plants on Monday is unlikely to go ahead.

Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh said he was pleased he was able to find a solution to the problem.

He said this followed from detailed discussions that had taken place between his department and farm organisations.

Farmers met with processors and renderers at an IFA organised press conference in Dublin earlier in the day.

The processors had warned that a planned disruption by livestock farmers of normal factory business would damage the industry.

IFA president John Dillon had announced that farmers were to withhold cattle and sheep supplies from the factories from Monday.

Farmers said they were furious at having to carry the cost for meat and bone meal disposal on top of other government charges.

But the Irish Meat Association urged them not to jeopardise the industry’s future. It also called on the Government to reconsider cutbacks.