Dairy co-ops want private storage aid put in place for surplus product after a collapse in the food service industry, Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) president Jerry Long has said.

Long said he will ask Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to present the proposal at tomorrow’s meeting of European ministers.

Co-ops are also seeking an export credit guarantee scheme to counteract market uncertainty that has occurred as a result of low oil prices.

Long also said emergency supports for the beef sector should also be implemented. He suggested the intervention price be set at a realistic price to prevent a market collapse. The current intervention price is €2.50/kg.

Supply chains

"It is vital that the agri-food supply chain is maintained in its entirety throughout the public health emergency sparked by COVID-19," Long said.

"There are a huge number of vital services required to keep our safe food production system running – we need feed, fertiliser, fuel, veterinary supplies, animal movement, milk recording, artificial insemination, milking machine service and repair, hardware supplies and so on.”

He also stressed that all essential services must be maintained when tighter movement restrictions were “inevitably” imposed.

“It's important to note that in both New Zealand and the UK, which have declared general lockdowns in their economies, have recognised and preserved the place of the agri-food supply chain, with those key services being maintained, while maintaining best practice in physical distancing,” Long said.

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