Up to 15% of workers are absent in dairy processing plants due to COVID-19, and processors are working together to ensure all milk is processed, Conor Mulvihill director of Dairy Industries Ireland (DII) said.

Dairy processors are working within the public health guidance as it stands and are watching the close contact rules like other industries, he said.

“We constantly met with NPHET, the Department of Agriculture and the HSE in the run up to Christmas. Business continuity plans were put in place and these have continued.

“Things are tight, especially in liquid milk plants, but there has been no emergency yet. Like other industries, we have absence figures varying from 8% to 15% at present.

“We continue to work with the Department of Agriculture to ensure continuity of supply.”

Every factory is operating, but given the community incidence, there are concerns about staff shortages in parts

Meanwhile, Cormac Healy, director of Meat Industry Ireland, told the Irish Farmers Journal that all workplaces across the economy are impacted.

“Every factory is operating, but given the community incidence, there are concerns about staff shortages in parts. How staff shortages develop in the next two to three weeks will be a factor,” he said.

He added that antigen testing and COVID-19 measures remain in placed in factories.

Protocols

Last week, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) called for Government to “urgently engage in a practical, ongoing review of self-isolation protocols and restricted movement requirements for close contacts”.

Failure to act swiftly would result in unnecessary disruption to manufacturing and retailing activities providing essential supply of goods and services across society, it said.