Donegal Catch to be processed in England

A FOOD company plans to send fish caught off the Irish coast to England for processing and then bring its Donegal Catch all the way back again to sell in Ireland — making a round trip of 550 miles.

Green Isle Foods is closing its Donegal Catch processing plant in Boyle, Co Roscommon, with the loss of 78 jobs.

From September, Donegal Catch will be sent to a factory in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, where a breadcrumb coating will be added before the fish is sent back to Irish supermarkets and stores.

Last night, Fine Gael spokesman Denis Naughten criticised the closure, adding that high costs and lack of Government support were hitting the food industry.

He said: “There must be something seriously amiss with our cost base if it makes financial sense — even with transport costs — to send food from Ireland to Britain for processing.

“The food industry say it is cheaper for them to get the food here, carry out some processing here and then carry out the final processing in Britain before bringing it back here.

“Green Isle are not the only food company doing this and it’s not that Ireland lacks the expertise, skilled workforce or the facilities, as it’s purely a financial consideration.”

Mr Naughten said the food industry was struggling to cope with steep rises in gas and electricity bills as well as a general inflation rate of 4.2%.

He said the decision to close the Green Isle processing plant was evidence that Irish jobs were being lost because of the rises in costs.

He called on the Government to do more to help food businesses and to tackle the number of regulations the industry has to comply with.

“The industry employs over 200,000 people, accounts for almost a quarter of total exports and is worth €7 billion to our economy yet the Government is endangering its growth,” he said.

“The Government must take immediate steps to support our valuable food industry, which is the backbone of many smaller towns.”

Green Isle last night said the switch to a sister factory in England would provide the company with greater processing capacity for its range. Other elements of the business — comprising over 130 employees — remain at Gurteen, Co Sligo, and Naas, Co Kildare.

The Department of Food and Agriculture insisted the Government was committed to the food industry.