Brendan Smith urges urgent aid for pig meat sector
Brendan Smith warned the Taoiseach that the pig meat sector is in a serious crisis and called for immediate direct aid. He outlined causes including Covid-related processing backlogs, a steep fall in exports to Britain, and rising input costs, and appealed to ministers for an urgent aid package.
Key concern raised
He said the sector is suffering huge losses that threaten the viability of some pig units and farms and warned that without immediate direct aid there will be casualties and major financial losses.
Factors driving the crisis
He cited staff shortages during Covid that produced a processing backlog, Brexit-driven declines in exports with Britain down 50% since the beginning of last year, input price inflation, and the high energy usage of pig units along with other increased input costs.
Economic importance and international comparisons
He described the pig sector as worth 1 billion to the economy annually and as the third largest sector within agriculture. He noted that the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Poland and Slovenia have introduced direct aid to pig producers.
Appeal to government and next steps
He appealed to the Taoiseach, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister for Public Expenditure to ensure a proper and adequate aid package as a matter of extreme urgency. He said he will speak to the Minister of Agriculture about the European Commission and will follow up on the matter.
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Taoiseach, I welcome your engagement with representatives of the agri-food sector, and I am thinking in particular at this time, unfortunately, of the very serious crisis in the pig meat sector. This sector is suffering huge losses at present, which threatens the viability of some pig units and farms throughout the country. There are a number of factors contributing to these difficulties. First of all, during Covid there were staff shortages, which led to a backlog in processing. Brexit has impacted very severely the value and volume of pig meat exports, Britain, which is our most valued and valuable market, are down 50% since the beginning of last year. There is input price inflation, and of course pig units are one of the highest users of direct energy in Irish agriculture, and there are also other increased input costs. It is a sector that is worth 1 billion to the economy on an annual basis, and it is the third largest sector within agriculture. The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Poland and Slovenia have introduced direct aid to the pig producers and to that sector. Thank you. We need the same level of direct aid to this sector immediately, Taoiseach, or else there will be casualties and there will be huge losses incurred by that sector, which will threaten the viability of so many units. I would appeal to Taoiseach and the Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Public Expenditure to ensure that a proper and adequate aid package is put in place as a matter of extreme urgency. Thank you. I will talk to the Minister of Agriculture in relation to the European Commission, but I will talk to the Minister in the first instance. It is under huge pressure because of the wider issues pertaining to cost and input costs. I will come back to you in relation to that. Thank you very much.
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