Minister Creed must intervene now, before beef crisis worsens – Sheehan

Fianna Fáil Wexford County Councillor, Michael Sheehan, has said Minister Creed must intervene now before the beef crisis worsens.

Cllr Sheehan said, “I’m calling on the Agriculture and Food Minister, Michael Creed to intervene in the beef dispute immediately. The atmosphere is becoming sinister and before it spirals out of control, he needs to intervene and broker a solution all sides can live with.

“The Minister can convene talks and resolve this issue instead of leaving both sides to spar it out in court and the in the media. The scenes of the last few days bore ominous signs of a situation increasingly combustible. This needs to end before something truly awful happens.

“The beef industry is vital to our county’s economy, our community and way of life. Farmers deserve a fairer deal, the Minister should intervene and bring in all stakeholders, including retailers, to hammer out a deal all sides can live with. And then enforce it.

“There is a considerable irony to see companies making multi-million-euro profits while farmers get pennies; especially as steer prices are on the floor at €3.45 per KG. This dispute is bad for industry, bad for farmers, bad for consumers and overall terrible for County Wexford’s economy.

“The government can and must resolve this to protect farmers and consumers. It’s increasingly seen as the farmers defending their way of life. As the farm goes, the economy goes.

“If it’s a question of increased prices or a better settlement for farmers then we will have to address that- in contrast to some of the most comparable foreign beef, our meat is at a much higher standard and better quality. There is a situation where it’s a win for consumers, farmers and the companies.

“Until the Minister intervenes, Irish agriculture will lose customers, lose markets, lose millions while increasingly everyone’s is losing patience. Doing nothing is not a policy; it’s an excuse”, he concluded.