April 17th, 2009

ICMSA figures show "massive rip-off" in Republic's fallen animal costs

The President of ICMSA has said that farmers in the republic are the victims of a disgraceful rip-off to the tune of at least €8.3 million on the disposal of fallen animals. Mr Jackie Cahill said that an unholy alliance of knackeries, the Department of Agriculture and the renderers had constructed a system that has farmers in the republic paying €100 more to dispose of the same class of carcass than their counterparts in the north.

“Here’s the old story again of rip-off Ireland. In precisely the same way as farmers in the Republic were ripped-off for years on the cost of fertiliser, our figures now demonstrate conclusively that we have been victims of another extortionate cartel in the area of the disposal of fallen animals. In the case of fallen animals within the age bracket of 12-24 months, the cost to dispose of such a carcass in the Republic is €140, while in the north the charge is €78.32. If we take animals within the age bracket 24-48 months, the figures are respectively €190 and €84.84 – a difference of over €100 for the same service! The Department has allowed a lucrative cartel to be constructed at the expense of farmers yet again!”

Mr. Cahill said if the Minister does not act within a week, ICMSA will refer the position to the Competition Authority.

“It is exactly this type of blatant rip-off -sanctioned in part by the Department- that has put the country into an uncompetitive tailspin. The Department helped create this cartel to remedy a perceived need and they cannot simply walk away from it. A whole range of issues need to be addressed including the disposal of meat and bone-meal within Ireland. It is not acceptable for the Government to withdraw the subsidy and leave farmers to the tender mercies of a cartel he created that is already ripping-off the Republic’s farmers to the tune of some €8 million – as the ICMSA comparison with the North shows conclusively.

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