Local Wicklow TD Attends IFA Lobby Day- Beef Sector Facing €800 Millon Direct Hit From Brexit

In attendance from County Wicklow was Fianna Fail TD Pat Casey and Chris Hill Wicklow IFA Chairman.

The IFA presented a detailed set of proposals including an EU Brexit Emergency Support Package to politicians, demanding that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed take urgent action with the EU Commission to address the Beef and Brexit issues.

Speaking following an IFA lobby of TDs and Senators on the beef crisis in Dublin, IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods, said a hard Brexit would devastate Ireland’s €3bn beef and livestock sector.

He said, “IFA estimate the imposition of WTO tariffs in a hard-Brexit will impose a direct cost on the beef sector of €800m per year.

The IFA proposals to Government and the EU Commission include;

• An EU Brexit Emergency Support Package involving a comprehensive set of market supports and direct aid for farmers from the EU Commission
• EU state aid limitations on members states must be set-aside
• Challenge the meat factories to immediately increase prices and prioritise the young bull kill. Increase factory controls on trim, classification and weights.
• Strong support for the live export trade to double numbers in 2019 and ensure that no further restrictions are imposed on the trade

• Reward quality suckler stock with a significant price premium

• Increased funding for suckler to €200 per cow

• Insist on an increase in the CAP budget
• Continue to resist a damaging Mercosur trade deal
• Climate change recommendations which focus on the Teagasc roadmap with no carbon-based production quota.