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Farm organisations and Meat Industry Ireland could be back around the table as early as this Thursday to discuss the beef industry, after marathon talks ended around 2am on Tuesday morning.
Progress was made on a review of the beef grid, the weighing of cattle at the factory pre-slaughter and price transparency at EU level. The talks came after protests, instigated by the Beef Plan Movement, were held outside 22 factories since 28 July over current beef prices and the situation in the beef industry.
The Beef Plan was contacted for comment and it said a statement would be issued later this morning.
IFA president Joe Healy said some progress had been made on market transparency and the introduction of a price index.
There is also a commitment to look at the market specifications that impact on price that exist in the beef grid, the IFA said.
Pat McCormack president of the ICMSA told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that talks could resume as “soon as this Thursday depending on MII deliberations. By Wednesday evening they are to be back with a result [on Monday’s talks]".
McCormack said he was hopeful of a positive outcome and that there needs to be trust and transparency in the beef industry.
“The talks yesterday were extremely tense, it’s a result of pressure on farm families. All eyes are on the processing plants at this time to ensure fairness and transparency,” he said.
Following the talks, it is understood that MII is to come back with proposals on each of the issues raised at Monday’s meeting.
The Beef Plan Movement, IFA, ICSA, INHFA and Macra all sent delegations to the meeting.
More to follow
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