4 Sep 2019, 18:22
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has unanimously agreed to invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr Michael Creed TD, and Mr Michael Dowling, independent talks chairman, to a meeting of the Committee as soon as possible to discuss the ongoing beef dispute.
Meeting in private session this afternoon, Wednesday, September 4, 2019, the Committee chaired by Pat Deering TD also unanimously called for the round-table discussions, without precondition, to be reinstated as quickly as possible. These talks must include the retailers, the Committee agreed.
The Committee also called on the meat industry to commit to discussing issues of immediate concern to farmers, including the 30-month age limit, the ‘four movements’ rule and the 70-day residency requirement.
Commenting on the decision of the Committee, Chairman Pat Deering TD said: “I very much welcome the unanimity shown by Members today in their determination to assist in ending the ongoing dispute between farmers and the meat factories.
“Given the urgency to find a resolution to the current impasse, we look forward to a positive engagement with Minister Creed.”
ENDS
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