Update 5.00pm:
There are calls for the Minister for Agriculture to intervene as farmers continue to protest at meat factories in Waterford and across the country.
Beef farmers took to the picket lines at the start of last week over the low price they’re receiving for their animals.
17 trucks, trailers and lorries were blocked from entering Dawn Meats on the Waterford/Kilkenny border earlier.
The cattle trucks have since departed and other traffic is now allowed through.
Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness says an urgent intervention is required of both the government and the meat industry.
“There’s an animal right issue here, how long have those animals been penned in those trucks? How long are they going to remain?
“There’s an urgent necessity for political and meat industry intervention and talks.
“They [the famers] face economic ruin if it continues.
“There seems to be silence on the side of the government and on the side of the meat industry.
“An immediate intervention is needed to cope with this problem.”
There was a large garda presence outside Dawn Meats in Grannagh this afternoon. Picture Nigel Kelly
Earlier: There are reports that all traffic is being prevented from entering a meat factory on the Waterford/Kilkenny border this afternoon.
There’s a large garda presence outside Dawn Meats in Grannagh where farmers have been protesting since last Tuesday.
They’re unhappy about the low prices being paid to them by Irish factories.
Protests are continuing at ABP in Ferrybank and at other locations across the country.
Up to 50 farmers prevented trucks from gaining entry to Dawn Meats this morning, the situation escalated at lunchtime.
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Sean Harris is the Vice Chairman of the Waterford branch of Beef Plan.
“There are tactics being played here now at this stage.
“They’re coming out saying this is private property.
“The bottom line here is that farmers are here, they’re fighting for their future and their families and they’re not going away.
“This is only going to get resolved by talks with the people at the top.”
Pat Kirwan from Kilmacthomas says he has been stood down as spokesperson by the protesting farmers.
“The protestors have decided to step up their protest, to stop all traffic going in.
“I’ve asked them on behalf of Beef Plan not to do that and they told me to go away, so I’m gone.”
Sean Harris added that “it looks like farmers are going to do this on their own steam now.
“We have to abide by the rules and guidelines of Beef Plan and we have to abide by the law, so we’re going to do that.
“We can’t control these farmers, if they say they’re not leaving, we can only tell them what they have to do, after that it’s up to each individual farmer what they’re going to do.”
Sean Harris says one lorry was allowed into ABP in the past week
“One lorry was left in on animal welfare grounds.
“It is an animal welfare issue here now [in Grannagh] with these cattle, it’s the responsibility of the lorry driver.
“The option of coming in here now is not an option for him, he has other options.
“We’re even providing options for him.”
Main Image: Farmers blocking cattle trucks from entering Dawn Meats in Grannagh on Tuesday. Picture thanks to Nigel Kelly
