Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is to be pushed in Dáil Éireann next week to introduce new hi-tech beef grading machines in all meat plants without delay by Independent TD Denis Naughten.

“The mechanical grading machines in use in beef plants across the country today were first trialled and tested 20 years ago and the fact is that technology has come a very long way since that time.

Modern machines

“The meat industry and the Department of Agriculture trialled modern grading machines over a year ago and now it is time that we see action,” the Roscommon-Galway TD said.

Deputy Naughten said he will be raising the issue due to serious concerns that farmers could be losing €140-plus per animal due to the old machines currently in use.

At the time these machines were first tested by Teagasc, people had to use dial-up connections to access the internet

He intends to point out to Minister Creed that “at the time these machines were first tested by Teagasc, email was a new technology and people had to use dial-up connections to access the internet".

“Today, a farmer can broadcast a live video from the palm of his hand in the middle of a field!”

Impact on payments received

Any incorrect grading could have a significant impact on the payment received by farmers, because if a grading machine was out by at least two subcategories, this could see farmers getting €140/head less than they should for their cattle, he said.

Deputy Naughten has tabled a question to the Minister for Agriculture on beef grading machines during oral parliamentary questions, which will take place next Tuesday afternoon.

He intends to ask the Minister to justify why UK rules on grading machines require them to be checked every day, but Irish grading machines only have reports produced on a weekly basis.

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