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Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has condemned the behaviour of some protesters at Beef Plan Movement protests in some sites.
In a statement, MII said it accepts the right of suppliers to organise a peaceful protest and notes the protest guidelines which Beef Plan published for its members.
However, it said it was disappointed at the “failure of Beef Plan leadership to ensure adherence to its own protocols”.
Unacceptable abuse
“Indeed, the behaviour of some protesters at certain sites has gone well beyond the guidelines issued by Beef Plan and has resulted in unacceptable abuse and intimidation of fellow farmer suppliers, company employees, Government-assigned veterinarians and other service providers including hauliers."
Frustration
Speaking on behalf of beef processing companies, it said it “understands the frustration of beef producers with current price returns” but again emphasised that “this is driven by extremely poor sales demand in export markets in the UK and across Continental Europe at a time when there appears to be strong beef supplies in the EU market.
“Furthermore, the real prospect of a No-deal outcome to Brexit in three months’ time has fundamentally disturbed market equilibrium,” MII said.
Challenges
Similar to a statement issued on Monday, MII said: “The current Beef Plan protests which are geared towards disrupting the normal and orderly marketing of beef and lamb will do nothing to resolve the challenges in the marketplace nor the predicament of hard-pressed producers.”
MII has written to Beef Plan stating its willingness to engage with its leadership in a constructive manner but will not do so while the protests and disruption continue.
“MII once again calls on Beef Plan, in the wider interest of the beef sector to reflect on the wisdom of the current campaign and in particular the considerable damage being caused to the beef sector at all levels,” the statement read.
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