The IFA has said Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed was “highly misleading” and “incorrect” when he described the four-movement limit as “a purely private arrangement” between the IFA and beef factories.

The rule is in place under the Quality Payment System (QPS) applied by factories since 2009, ruling out bonus payments on cattle that have moved more than four times from farm to farm.

"The fact is that the introduction of the QPS was a public matter, which included debate in Dáil Éireann at the time," the IFA said in a statement this Monday. The association said there was a fully open, robust and lengthy discussion about this at the time, and criteria were based on scientific research by Teagasc.

The meat factories claimed these specifications were being demanded by retailers, buyers and consumers

"At the time, the meat factories claimed these specifications were being demanded by retailers, buyers and consumers, a claim they continue to make," the IFA said. This does not include carcase weights.

The four-movement rule has come under fire from farming groups, including the Beef Plan Movement in recent weeks.

Minister Creed told the Dáil that the QPS was introduced "by agreement between Meat Industry Ireland and the IFA" and his Department had "no role" in it.

No role for Department of Agriculture in four-movement rule

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IFA hits back at Creed in four-movement rule controversy

The association has rejected the minister's description of Quality Payment System criteria on cattle as a private arrangement between the IFA and the factories.