Carol Nolan urges independent regulator as beef sector collapses
Carol Nolan addressed the collapse of the beef and suckler sector and demanded an independent regulator after a fall of up to 20 cent per kilo in the past two weeks. She also called for urgent horticulture legislation, warning of the loss of up to 17,600 jobs and animal welfare risks as farmers leave the sector.
Immediate crisis in beef and suckler sector
The beef and suckler sector is described as being in chaos following a drop of up to 20 cent per kilo over two weeks. Nolan said many agreements from the beef task force are being reneged upon by factories - price confirmations by text or email are not being sent, agreed weighing scales have not been installed, and changes to weight notices are not being communicated to farmers.
Call for an independent regulator
Nolan called on the minister to commit to setting up an independent regulator separate to the ombudsman, noting the minister had previously called for an independent regulator when in opposition. She argued factories are not playing ball, honest trading in the supply chain is absent, and producers of high-quality beef are not being treated fairly.
Consequences for farmers and animal welfare
She warned that the continuous disadvantage to farmers is driving beef and suckler producers into dairying, which she said will lead to calves being abandoned and create animal welfare issues. Nolan presented farmer exits from the sector as a direct consequence of unfair trading and an unsustainable model in factories and supermarkets.
Horticulture and urgent legislation
On horticulture Nolan urged that legislation be introduced urgently to halt job losses and protect communities, saying Ireland is recklessly presiding over the loss of up to 17,600 jobs. She said the promised fair just transition has not happened and called for rapid legislative action to address the sector's collapse.
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Minister, as you are aware, the beef and suckler sector is in chaos again, with the drop of up to 20 cent per kilo in the past two weeks, it has led to a serious situation. I'm calling on you today to commit to the setting up of an independent regulator for this sector, separate to the ombudsman. I know that when you were in opposition yourself, you did call for an independent regulator, and that's the first thing I'll stress to you, there is a need. Many of the agreements that were made on the beef task force are now being reneged upon by factories. For example, it's come to my attention that there was an agreement that factories would confirm prices to farmers by text or email. They're not doing that. There was also another agreement to put weighing scales into factories. That's not being done. And then also in terms of the weights, it was agreed that any changes to weight notice would be given to farmers. That's not happening either, Minister. Minister. It is evident that there is no honest trading in the supply chain and it's also evident that there isn't a sustainable model in terms of the meat factories and supermarkets. We need to come to grips with that because that's the reality and that's the fact of the matter here and we need to deal with it. Minister, what we're facing here is an unacceptable situation, which is continuously disadvantaging farmers and leading to a situation where beef and suckler farmers are exiting the sector and opting for dairy. This will lead to animal welfare issues as calves will be abandoned. Because of the beef farmers leaving that sector and going into dairying we will have calves abandoned and that's animal welfare. You need to take this on board. The only way forward is to put an independent regulator in place because the factories aren't playing ball. And at the end of the day, the producer who is producing high quality beef is not being treated fairly. And I would call on you to resolve that. And also Minister, in terms of horticulture, we need legislation fast. Ireland is the only country that I know of that is recklessly presiding over the loss of up to 17,600 jobs. We were supposed to have a fair transition, a just transition. We didn't have a fair just transition. We need legislation brought in urgently. In very communities, people like a specialist and who consents. Its support is by scientists. We do not for like performingaries from!". Yes. nova
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