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New bonuses for quality assured (QA) cattle will apply from Monday 23 September, after all remaining protests at meat factories around the country were lifted as of Sunday night.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has confirmed that all “illegal blockades” have now been removed from member beef processing facilities throughout the country, with the remaining three removed on Sunday night.
The lifting of protests also means that beef processors have withdrawn all legal proceedings against farm organisations and/or individual farmers.
A spokesperson for MII said beef processing is recommencing in some sites on Monday and will be fully operational later this week.
Sheep processing has also recommenced in the west of Ireland plants.
Lay-offs
“Beef processors are contacting employees who were regrettably laid off over recent weeks to inform them that they will be recommencing processing this week.
“Unfortunately, members are stating that some personnel will not be returning to work in the beef sector, as they have gained employment in other sectors.
“Members are already in contact with their regular farmer suppliers to schedule deliveries, which have been prevented over the last eight weeks.
"Over 100,000 cattle that would, in normal circumstances, have been processed by now, have been backed up due to the disruption over recent weeks,” the spokesperson said.
Irish beef buyers
MII also said that beef processors are also engaging with their customer base “after this damaging period to seek to rebuild business” over the period ahead.
“This will take some time, as many customers have made their purchasing plans without Irish beef and committed to supply arrangements with alternative suppliers for at least the next number of weeks.
“There will be a need for additional marketing and promotional activity to support Irish beef in the period ahead and MII will discuss this with the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia,” according to the MII spokesperson.
The provisions of the Irish beef sector agreement of 15 September 2019 will now commence implementation, MII said.
“As processors recommence operations and try to return to normal business, a major focus for all is the prospect of Brexit at the end of October and the detrimental implications of a no-deal outcome for our entire sector,” it concluded.
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