Beef Plan and Meat Industry Ireland agree to talks
Following an appeal by Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed to enter talks, both parties agreed following weeks at odds.
In a statement on social media, Creed confirmed that “the Beef Plan Movement and Meat Industry Ireland have accepted his compromise proposals aimed at breaking the ongoing impasse between the two parties”.
“All protests at meat processing plants and legal proceedings are to be suspended with immediate effect until the agreed talks have concluded. A meeting will be held on Monday August 12 involving both MII and the Beef Plan Movement and also including representatives from the farm organisations, the Department and its agencies. The Minister will appoint an independent chairperson who will preside over an agreed agenda.”
The Beef Plan protests, which have been going on for almost two weeks, had been taking place at more than 20 processing sites around Ireland. The group was protesting against the poor margins being received by farmers for beef compared to the retail prices.
The round-the-clock protests had caused disruptions to the plants and led to legal action being threatened.
