A number of farmers have contacted the IFA to express their frustration over the “lack of co-operation of a small number” of Department of Agriculture officials in the loading of the Sarah M in Waterford last week.
That is according to the organisation’s president, Tim Cullinan, who said this is “totally unacceptable” in the current crisis, where farmers are finding it extremely difficult to sell cattle and are having to take severe price cuts.
“Farmers and exporters need the full co-operation of everybody in the current crisis.”
Some farmers, who had livestock on the ship, explained that there were significant delays in scanning and processing cards. Some have alleged that some cards were “mixed up and lost in the process”, according to the farm group.
Price competition and additional market outlets
IFA national livestock chairman, Brendan Golden, said live exports were “never more important” in terms of price competition and additional market outlets.
“IFA has been working with the exporters, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture to maximise the live export trade and there is no place for bureaucracy which would hold it up.”
