THE GOVERNMENT has been criticised for giving €69 million to meat processors while it has withheld farm waste-management grants from farmers.
Malcolm Thompson, president of the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association, said he had no objection to processors getting grants when money was available. “But a string of budget cuts on farmer schemes suggests that this cannot be afforded at present. Surely the Government should have taken care of its obligations to farmers under the farm waste-management grant before embarking on any new spending.” While the grants were described as “a positive development” by IFA president Pádraig Walshe, he said they must be matched with delivery of viable cattle and sheep prices to farmers.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII), the Ibec group representing the beef and lamb processing companies, said the investment in a traditional indigenous industry represented good value for money based on the employment supported, the value-added generation and the export earnings.
MII director Cormac Healy said studies showed one job in eight in the Irish economy was linked to the food and agricultural sectors, and exports from the meat sector were worth €2 billion annually.