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Lorcan McCabe, deputy president of the Irish Creamery Milk Association (ICMSA) has welcomed the announcement that knackeries have resumed the collection of fallen animals.
He noted that although it may be too early to assume that the dispute is completely resolved, the decision represented progress. He also pointed out that the continuing dispute between the knackeries and the Department is causing disruption and anxiety to an already pressurised farming sector. McCabe has warned against any idea that the dispute could be resolved by passing the problem and cost on to farmers.
Compromise
He said: “All ICMSA has been saying is that invariably in disputes like this, a solution will be reached by genuine talks and compromise. Farmers become very frustrated indeed where they end up the ‘meat-in-a-sandwich’ in issues between other parties in the agricultural sector.”
McCabe also said that the ICMSA is “vehemently opposed” to any idea that two non-farmer elements come to a compromise where any increased costs should be passed on to farmers.
“ICMSA welcomes that the dispute looks likely to be resolved, but the bill for that resolution had better not be presented to farmers. Farmers are already paying more than sufficient fees for fallen animal collection and this deal, at whatever stage it is, had better not be built on the idea that we’ll be paying a cent more,” said McCabe.
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