Up to 100 farmers entered the EU vet and food site in Kiltale, Co. Meath on Wednesday. While the gates were locked, farmers used ladders and straw bales to enter the premises to speak to those inside. A bale of straw was later set on fire outside the front door of the building. A number of garda were present on site at the time of the protest.
Up to 100 farmers entered the EU vet and food site in Kiltale, Co. Meath on Wednesday. While the gates were locked, farmers used ladders and straw bales to enter the premises to speak to those inside. A bale of straw was later set on fire outside the front door of the building. A number of garda were present on site at the time of the protest.
The IFA are calling for an immediate ban on sub standard imports from South America, rollout of the €1 billion fund announced by Commissioner Phil Hogan immediately, a compensation fund to be set up to cover farmers losses at the moment (IFA estimate farmers losing €4 million/week at the moment) and an EU wide beef promotional campaign to boost consumer demand for beef
IFA president said that it was completely unacceptable that these imports are allowed continue. “Its hypocrisy of the highest level and it’s a sell out of Irish beef farmers. Irish farmers are going broke because of these sub-standard imports being allowed into the EU". Healy went on to add that all Irish farmers wanted was a level playing field.
Deputy director of the facility Frank Andresson told the farmers present that the role of the office was to carry out checks and inspections in countries that export to the EU.
“We produce reports on these countries and submit our findings and it’s up to the relevant authority to act on them," he told the crowd. "We have to realise that we have certain rules that we apply in Ireland and we have certain arrangements that we apply in third countries, like Brazil”.
When questioned on the inspection process he admitted that all inspections to South America are pre-announced.
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