Laois Meat Factory Warning Of Closure Over Beef Protests

Tuesday, 17 September 2019 10:18

By Ellen Butler

Temporary job losses could become permanent.

Owners of a Laois meat factory are warning of closure, as continuing protests put pressure on operations.

Protests by beef farmers at the Meadow Meats plant in Rathdowney are into their seventh week.

The owners of the processing facility are now questioning the long-term viability of the plant, warning that temporary lay-offs last week could become permanent.

Meanwhile,

The Minister for Agriculture has written an open letter to protesting beef farmers asking them to end their blockades at factories.

It's after farming organisations widely supported recommendations made at the weekend following talks between all sides.

Micheal Creed says farmers voices have been heard 'loud and clear', but that nobody got everything they wanted from the talks.

He added that many farmers simply wanted an immediate price increase but it was not legally possible to have that option on the table.

Cormac Healy from Meat Industry Ireland says processing needs to resume at factories: