Irish gov't criticised for giving grants to meat processors

The government has been criticised for giving EUR69 million to meat processors while it has withheld farm waste-management grants from farmers.

Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association president Malcolm Thompson said he had no objection to processors getting grants when money was available, but added that a string of budget cuts on farmer schemes suggested that this cannot be afforded at present.

While the grants were described as "a positive development" by Irish Farmers Association (IFA) president Padraig Walshe, he said they must be matched with delivery of viable cattle and sheep prices to farmers.

Meat Industry Ireland (MII), the Ibec group representing the beef and lamb processing companies, said the investment in a traditional indigenous industry represented good value for money based on the employment supported, the value-added generation and the export earnings.

MII director Cormac Healy said studies showed one job in eight in the Irish economy was linked to the food and agricultural sectors, and exports from the meat sector were worth EUR2 billion annually.

US$1 = EUR0.719 (May 26)