There has been positive feedback from talks between Dunnes Stores and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA). It’s understood that the IFA had tabled a number of proposals at a meeting held earlier this week, as protests were halted due to the agreement of discussions between the two parties.
According to IFA president Tim Cullinan, they had made it clear to senior management in Dunnes that there is a real urgency around addressing rising costs at farm level. Dunnes Stores has confirmed that they have committed to respond to the proposals with a detailed reply. IFA poultry chairperson Nigel Sweetman says that other retailers have met with IFA and acknowledged the issue of rising costs, but “they need to act”. He adds that “we cannot survive at current prices. Farmers are looking for 15c a chicken and 2c an egg.”
Government involvement in the matter was also highlighted as IFA pigs chairperson, Roy Gallie had called on government to “step up” on the issue, as well as retailers. He comments that “pig farmers are in a vice-like grip with feed price increases on one side and falling prices on the other.”
Protests came to a halt yesterday after the IFA received a call from Dunnes after protests at its outlets in Cork and Monaghan earlier this week. Cullinan then reassured farmers that they would engage in meaningful discussions.
LSL News.