Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has been called on to intervene in the ongoing standoff between beef farmers and factories by Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald.
McDonald visited protesting farmers outside Liffey Meats Ballyjamesduff on Thursday evening 8 August along with Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy.
She said beef farmers did not want to be on the picket lines, but were there because they believed they have no choice.
ADVERTISEMENT
Farmers’ livelihoods were under threat and the family farm model would cease to exist unless drastic action was taken, McDonald said.
Talks
She insisted that the Minister had a responsibility to farmers and his actions in repeating preconditions laid down by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) were unacceptable.
She said the Minister must insist MII meet with farm organisations without preconditions.
“The fact that the industry has been willing to threaten legal action against farmers and lay off workers rather than engage in talks has been telling.
"The meat plant workers have been innocent victims in this dispute, their livelihoods also depend on a speedy resolution to this situation,” McDonald said.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has been called on to intervene in the ongoing standoff between beef farmers and factories by Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald.
McDonald visited protesting farmers outside Liffey Meats Ballyjamesduff on Thursday evening 8 August along with Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy.
She said beef farmers did not want to be on the picket lines, but were there because they believed they have no choice.
Farmers’ livelihoods were under threat and the family farm model would cease to exist unless drastic action was taken, McDonald said.
Talks
She insisted that the Minister had a responsibility to farmers and his actions in repeating preconditions laid down by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) were unacceptable.
She said the Minister must insist MII meet with farm organisations without preconditions.
“The fact that the industry has been willing to threaten legal action against farmers and lay off workers rather than engage in talks has been telling.
"The meat plant workers have been innocent victims in this dispute, their livelihoods also depend on a speedy resolution to this situation,” McDonald said.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS