Following on last week’s announcement that the P&O ferry group will withdraw its ship on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route from December 19, the IFA Livestock chairman John Bryan said yesterday there is a real urgency for Minister Mary Coughlan and the Government to intervene and guarantee farmers and live exporters continued roll on roll off (ro/ro) ferry access to markets in continental Europe.

POOR demand for beef after Easter trade has led to a further weakening in prices at the factories this week.

SUPPLIES of cattle to the factories have been a little tighter over the past week, and producers are pondering as to whether they can rely on a possible hardening of prices — but it may still be too soon to call it.