Beef factories in Ireland have a “complete stranglehold” on the livestock industry in Ireland, an ICOS delegation told a meeting of the European Co-op movement COPA-COGECA in Brussels on Wednesday.

Payment penalties based on farm-to-farm movements of cattle are subverting the free trade of cattle in Ireland, controlling prices and stifling competition, according to ICOS.

It also called for access to the Animal Identification and Movement System (AIM) system to be restricted to the Department of Agriculture only and not open to third parties such as factories.