Despite agreement between protesters and Minister Michael Creed that the beef taskforce should be allowed to start its work, farmers look set to continue their lockdown of Dublin city centre, as in-fighting breaks out among individual farmers.
Longford Councillor Paraic Brady and a number of other farmers made up a delegation that met with Minister Creed on Wednesday morning.
Up to 300 farmers with tractors in tow took to the streets of Dublin on Tuesday and remained in situ overnight.
Stalemate
Emerging from the meeting with the Minister this morning, Brady admitted that there was a “stalemate”, with protesting farmers part of the reason why progress had stalled on the beef taskforce agreed upon in September following seven weeks of protests at factory gates.
He said the Minister had been given until 15 December to convene a meeting of the taskforce that would be made up of farm organisations and Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
However, he was interrupted by members of the crowd saying they wouldn’t leave until injunctions against farmers were lifted.
The injunctions are a legacy of farmer protests at C&D Foods – which is owned by the ABP group – but did not take part in September beef talks and so has not honoured the agreement to lift all meat factory injunctions against farmers who were part of the protests.
Disagreement
In response to the unrest of the crowd, another member of the delegation John Dallon stepped in to reassure farmers.
“Lads and ladies, we did our best in there, we didn’t get a whole lot in there, the story is Minister Creed is well aware we’re going to be back on 15 December and we’re going to hit all the distribution centres,” he said.
“As regards to the injunctions, he has made it quite clear to us that he has not got the power to lift the injunctions. We fought hard with him, you know that I am not simple, I won’t give up.”
Many farmers are understood to be uneasy and are now seeking a discussion on beef prices, which the Minister has previously outlined is an issue he can’t intercede on due to competition law.
Threat
One of the delegation Joleen Smith threatened to essentially starve Dublin unless farmer demands are met.
“We have set a deadline that if the taskforce is not up and running before 15 December, there will be no food or drink in the capital because the distribution centres will be hit,” she told farmers.
Additional reporting by Barry Cassidy.
Read more
Farmers refuse to leave Dublin unless they meet Minister Creed
Farmer protest goes on into the night as roads remained closed in Dublin
Watch: tractors and farmers protesting on the streets of Dublin
Despite agreement between protesters and Minister Michael Creed that the beef taskforce should be allowed to start its work, farmers look set to continue their lockdown of Dublin city centre, as in-fighting breaks out among individual farmers.
Longford Councillor Paraic Brady and a number of other farmers made up a delegation that met with Minister Creed on Wednesday morning.
Up to 300 farmers with tractors in tow took to the streets of Dublin on Tuesday and remained in situ overnight.
Stalemate
Emerging from the meeting with the Minister this morning, Brady admitted that there was a “stalemate”, with protesting farmers part of the reason why progress had stalled on the beef taskforce agreed upon in September following seven weeks of protests at factory gates.
He said the Minister had been given until 15 December to convene a meeting of the taskforce that would be made up of farm organisations and Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
However, he was interrupted by members of the crowd saying they wouldn’t leave until injunctions against farmers were lifted.
The injunctions are a legacy of farmer protests at C&D Foods – which is owned by the ABP group – but did not take part in September beef talks and so has not honoured the agreement to lift all meat factory injunctions against farmers who were part of the protests.
Disagreement
In response to the unrest of the crowd, another member of the delegation John Dallon stepped in to reassure farmers.
“Lads and ladies, we did our best in there, we didn’t get a whole lot in there, the story is Minister Creed is well aware we’re going to be back on 15 December and we’re going to hit all the distribution centres,” he said.
“As regards to the injunctions, he has made it quite clear to us that he has not got the power to lift the injunctions. We fought hard with him, you know that I am not simple, I won’t give up.”
Many farmers are understood to be uneasy and are now seeking a discussion on beef prices, which the Minister has previously outlined is an issue he can’t intercede on due to competition law.
Threat
One of the delegation Joleen Smith threatened to essentially starve Dublin unless farmer demands are met.
“We have set a deadline that if the taskforce is not up and running before 15 December, there will be no food or drink in the capital because the distribution centres will be hit,” she told farmers.
Additional reporting by Barry Cassidy.
Read more
Farmers refuse to leave Dublin unless they meet Minister Creed
Farmer protest goes on into the night as roads remained closed in Dublin
Watch: tractors and farmers protesting on the streets of Dublin
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: