Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said the meat industry should step back from the brink of legal action against beef farmers protesting outside factory gates.
Speaking on RTÉ News, the Minister said space was needed for people to reflect and see how all parties “can collectively together progress this issue”.
Discussion
An offer of a roundtable discussion involving the Beef Plan Movement, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Minister was rejected on the basis that protesters would have to temporarily suspend their protests before talks took place.
Beef Plan negotiator Eoin Donnelly said the group was disappointed that the Minister had taken the same position as MII in setting a precondition before talks took place.
The Minister asked the Beef Plan to reflect further on their position.
Legal action
Also speaking on RTÉ News, senior director for MII Cormac Healy said: “At this point in time, companies are, as a last resort, faced with having to try and seek some legal recourse to get their businesses open again.”
Beef Plan co-chair Eamonn Corley said solicitors’ letters from five meat processors - ABP, Dawn Meats, Kepak, Liffey Meats and Slaney - were received by individuals in the Beef Plan on Thursday evening.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the letters include requests from the factories that Beef Plan protesters stop disrupting people from entering factories, stop taking pictures of people and stop trespassing.
Corley said the group was looking for talks and that it saw Saturday as an opportunity to do that, as there would be no kill.
Read more
Beef Plan disappointed with Minister’s response
Talks offered to Beef Plan Movement by Minister Creed
Listen: Minister urges farmers off the picket line
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said the meat industry should step back from the brink of legal action against beef farmers protesting outside factory gates.
Speaking on RTÉ News, the Minister said space was needed for people to reflect and see how all parties “can collectively together progress this issue”.
Discussion
An offer of a roundtable discussion involving the Beef Plan Movement, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Minister was rejected on the basis that protesters would have to temporarily suspend their protests before talks took place.
Beef Plan negotiator Eoin Donnelly said the group was disappointed that the Minister had taken the same position as MII in setting a precondition before talks took place.
The Minister asked the Beef Plan to reflect further on their position.
Legal action
Also speaking on RTÉ News, senior director for MII Cormac Healy said: “At this point in time, companies are, as a last resort, faced with having to try and seek some legal recourse to get their businesses open again.”
Beef Plan co-chair Eamonn Corley said solicitors’ letters from five meat processors - ABP, Dawn Meats, Kepak, Liffey Meats and Slaney - were received by individuals in the Beef Plan on Thursday evening.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the letters include requests from the factories that Beef Plan protesters stop disrupting people from entering factories, stop taking pictures of people and stop trespassing.
Corley said the group was looking for talks and that it saw Saturday as an opportunity to do that, as there would be no kill.
Read more
Beef Plan disappointed with Minister’s response
Talks offered to Beef Plan Movement by Minister Creed
Listen: Minister urges farmers off the picket line
SHARING OPTIONS