Fianna Fáil is proposing that the Bord Bia levy, paid by farmers, be abolished. Its spokesperson on agriculture Charlie McConalogue is to put the abolishment of the levy forward as party policy in the upcoming general election.

Last year farmers paid close to €4m in levies to Bord Bia for cattle exported or slaughtered, he said.

McConalogue told the Irish Farmers Journal that he is seeking to abolish the Bord Bia levy specifically, not any other levies paid on cattle.

He said that the €4m in funding should not come off the back of beef farmers, who are at the “pin of their collars”. Instead the funding should be provided by Government and it needs to engage with Bord Bia on funding, McConalogue said.

Fund

In response, a Bord Bia spokesperson said that the proceeds of the Bord Bia levy are used to fund advertising and promotional activities for livestock, beef, pork and lamb, including Bord Bia Quality Assured product. “It is not possible to undertake these activities without matching producer funding.

The levy income provides the necessary matching 50/50 industry funding required under the terms of the EU State Aid approval for advertising activities.”