Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 5

Written Answers. - Beef Industry.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

44 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his response to the report on the beef industry undertaken by a consultant (details supplied) on behalf of Enterprise Ireland which suggests that there will be substantial job losses and a number of plant closures unless immediate action is taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27807/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The report on the beef sector, which was commissioned by Enterprise Ireland, was designed to identify the most appropriate strategy for the development of the beef industry.

The report did not suggest that there would be substantial job losses and a number of plant closures unless immediate action is taken. One of the main conclusions in the report, however, was that there was substantial over-capacity in the cattle slaughtering sector and it recommended that the excess capacity should be removed through the closure of a number of plants leading to a more efficient industry which would be better equipped to exploit the high priced markets in the European Union. Such a development would, according to the report, also reduce damaging competition between Irish meat factories on third country markets.

Following the publication of the report, I set up a task force to prepare a strategic plan of action for the industry covering the complete range of activity from on farm production to processing and marketing. The report will provide a useful starting point for the work of the task force, but it will not be relied upon exclusively as a basis for drawing up the plan of action. The task force is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and its members are drawn from senior levels within the Department, industry and the relevant State agencies, including union representation. I have asked the group to submit its report before the end of January 1999.