Crunch talks on the beef industry are ongoing at Backweston this evening, Monday, between farmers, factories and officials from the Department of Agriculture.

The meeting kicked off at 2pm at the Department’s Backweston facility and as of 9pm talks were still ongoing.

Delegations from the Beef Plan Movement, IFA, ICMSA, ICSA, INHFA and Macra are all present at the meeting, along with Meat Industry Ireland (MII), the body which represents the meat factories. Each farm organisation was allowed three delegates at the meeting.

Agenda

The agenda for Monday’s meeting included; an overview of the meat market by Bord Bia, the strategic challenges facing beef by the Department and discussions on the quality payment system.

It also included:

  • Carcass classification.
  • Market transparency and market observatories.
  • Unfair Trading Practices directive.
  • Producer organisations.
  • Future steps.
  • Both the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and Beef Plan Movement co-chair Eamon Corley have told the Irish Farmers Journal that failure is not an option at the talks.

    Minister Creed said that “we cannot contemplate failure”, while Corley said that failure to agree a resolution could lead to further protests.

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