Pressure mounts on Creed to call Beef Taskforce meeting

Smyth writes to Minister urging the convening of Beef Market Taskforce meeting

A local TD has called on the Minister for Agriculture to set the date for next Beef Market Taskforce meeting.

The taskforce convened on January 9, the last of only two meetings in its turbulent short history. A scheduled meeting for March was cancelled in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, and as yet a new date has not been fixed despite a flatlining beef price.

Deputy Niamh Smyth has written to Minister Michael Creed, urging him to set a date for the third meeting and hold it via video conference.

Thomas Duffy, President of Macra which holds two seats on the roundtable, has previously told The Anglo-Celt that his organisation were willing to participate in a video-conference meeting.

Calling for a video conference ICSA beef chair Edmund Graham has also previously warned that confidence in the Beef Taskforce will be completely lost if it fails to tackle the crisis within the beef sector as a result of Covid-19.

While Meat Industry Ireland has previously remained silent when the Celt has asked them about the prospect of meeting remotely, the IFA president Tim Cullinan told this newspaper in recent weeks that there was no point in convening a meeting unless there was progress on the eagerly anticipated report by Grant Thornton. The report is, amongst other things, expected to outline which sectors - processors, retailers, farmers - take what percentage from of the beef price.

“While we still have the very important task in all sectors of reducing the transmission of the coronavirus the beef sector cannot be left on an indefinite pause," contended Deputy Smyth. "It is important Minister Creed bring the beef market taskforce together for their next meeting.

“I completely appreciate the public health guidelines prevented any meetings until now, but I do not see what is stopping a meeting being held over video conference. This is being done by many committees and groups across the country on a daily basis. There is no reason why it cannot work for the beef market taskforce."

Minister Creed is no stranger to video conferences. He was one of a number of politicians, along with Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski to participate in a meeting of the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council, held via video conference on, Wednesday, May 13.

The Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan added: “Many issues remain in the beef sector. The unprecedented changes brought about by COVID-19 have only served to increase the difficulties endured by hard working beef farmers.

“Using his Office Minister Creed needs to outline when the next meeting will take place via videoconference,” concluded Deputy Smyth.