The timing of the escalation in the dispute between the Department of Agriculture and knackery operators is certainly no coincidence. The move by the Animal Collectors' Association (ACA) to close their gates on Thursday was a clear strategy to use farmers as pawns in their negotiations.
The timing of the escalation in the dispute between the Department of Agriculture and knackery operators is certainly no coincidence.
The move by the Animal Collectors' Association (ACA) to close their gates on Thursday was a clear strategy to use farmers as pawns in their negotiations.
The organisation is clearly betting that shutting down the industry during a period of peak demand will force Department officials to either row back on the cap on collection fees charged to farmers or further increase the level of State aid being provided.
Conditions
Ultimately, as commercial businesses, the real objective of the shutdown is to increase the amount of money provided by the State to the sector and remove as many conditions to getting this money as possible.
While obviously the business needs to be commercially viable, the Department is right to link additional support to an agreement on maximum collection charges in order to ensure farmers are protected.
There is a need for both parties to quickly get back around the table and sort this issue out
Clearly, there is a need for both parties to quickly get back around the table and sort this issue out.
The impact of losing an animal is burden enough for farmers. Having a dead animal lying in the yard for a prolonged period does not only create a disease risk, but presents a real mental challenge to those affected.
The Department of Agriculture should move immediately to guarantee the ACA that any agreement reached in the coming weeks will be backdated to take effect from the start of March on the basis that they resume normal service immediately.
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Farmers advised to store fallen animals as knackeries strike
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