Kildare Chilling has said that Tuesday’s beef and sheep kill is currently in jeopardy as a result of a ban on freight from the UK imposed by France on Sunday evening.

Independent TD Verona Murphy and the president of the Irish Road Hauliers Association (IRHA) Eugene Drennan have both called for drivers with Irish product to be allowed past the French border, on the basis that they have only been transiting through the UK.

UK bypass

Factories have teams of people in place working on the logistics of moving meat over the coming days.

Their first move is to secure space on direct shipping routes from Ireland to continental Europe, bypassing the UK and thus avoiding the 48-hour freight ban imposed by France.

The priority is to keep product on shelves, with anxious customers calling to make sure that planned deliveries will be made.

However, while they are making direct shipping arrangements, the factories are simultaneously hoping that some political moves can be made to solve the French ban.

Last kill

Murphy has called on Government to seek ‘green lanes’ for Irish trucks to be allowed into France, if they undertook to cocoon within their vehicles while crossing the UK.

“They could undertake to not leave their trucks except to use toilet facilities.”

“For factories, Monday will be the last kill before Christmas with trucks getting out up to Wednesday to return on Thursday. There’s a huge amount to go out.”

IRHA president Eugene Drennan told Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One that there are over 200 Irish trucks in the UK waiting to make a crossing to the continent via France.

“I can’t stress enough that no truck should be loaded up with intentions to go to mainland Europe this morning, unless they have a direct route booked to go directly and avoid the UK.”

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