Measures agreed by both parties are sensible and pragmatic
Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow, Andrew Doyle, has said that the success of beef talks highlights the importance of the beef forum for helping to achieve agreement between beef producers and suppliers.
“After what has been an extremely challenging year for beef farmers and for the wider industry, I am pleased and relieved that we have a resolution which is agreeable to all sides. With this issue now resolved, the challenge to all in the beef sector is to avoid a repeat of the standoff we have seen in recent weeks and months. We have developed an extremely high quality beef sector which is internationally renowned and upon which tens of thousands of people rely for their livelihood. We must avoid going down this road again.
“In this respect, producers and the industry need to maintain closer contact and the beef forum provides the ideal vehicle for improved communications across the supply chain. The key lesson from all of this is that dialogue is the way forward.
“I particularly welcome Minister Coveney’s insistence that we need to improve the bargaining power of beef producers. The introduction of producer organisations will go a long way in this regard.
“The measures agreed by both parties are sensible and pragmatic. I welcome that there will be no price penalties based on weight until the end of 2015 and that, in relation to the Quality Payment System, there will be no dual base pricing for breed, age or weight. The price incentive agreed for all steers and heifers from Quality Assured farms with effect from 1st January 2015 is, I believe, a positive result for beef farmers.
“I commend Minister Coveney for the manner in which he has overseen a positive outcome for what had been an extremely challenging time for the beef industry.”