THE Minister for Agriculture has defended the £17 million compensation package he won for Irish beef farmers earlier this week. Mr Yates warned a mass meeting of farmers in Dublin last night that things are "going to get worse".
Mr Yates, who had earlier announced details of the rescue package in the Dail, told the IFA organised meeting this was the first time since Ireland joined the EU that Irish taxpayers had put their hands in their pockets to directly support farmers' incomes.
He added that the payments announced yesterday for the beef industry did not preclude him going again to Cabinet to ask it to help other hard pressed sectors which are being hit by the farm price crisis.
He criticised meat plants for reducing prices immediately export refunds were cut by the EU.
Farmers who had sold animals since Easter Tuesday would be entitled to a £50 premium, he said.
Outlining the crisis as he saw it, Mr Yates said the problems facing the industry will not go away until beef production and consumption were balanced and that could happen in the autumn of next year.
The IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, welcomed the aid package to beef farmers as "a start" but he now hoped the Government would respond to the Green Pound revaluation losses.
The ICMSA president, Mr Frank Allen, also welcomed the aid but said it fell far short of what was needed. The Irish Cattle Traders and Stockowners Association also welcomed the aid but cautioned against bankrolling of meat plants by the Irish taxpayer.
Mr John Smith, of the Irish Meat Association, representing meat plants, rejected Mr Yates's criticism of their operations.
SIPTU president, Mr Jimmy Somers, said: "The PAYE sector are again footing the bill by providing yet more compensatory payments for farmers."