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Farmers at the protest outside the Aldi distribution centre in Naas, Co Kildare, last Thursday. IFA/Twitter

IFA staging blockade outside Tesco distribution centre in Dublin

The latest blockade is part of the ongoing farmer campaign for an increase in beef prices.

LAST UPDATE | 9 Dec 2019

THE IRISH FARMERS’ Association (IFA) is staging a protest outside a Tesco distribution centre in north Co Dublin.

The latest blockade is part of the ongoing farmer campaign for an increase in beef prices.

The protest began at the distribution centre in Donabate, which supplies Tesco stores around the country, at 7am and is expected to last until 7pm.

IFA members held similar protests outside Aldi and Lidl distribution centres last week.

Meat processing company ABP last week said it will increase the base price of cattle for deliveries from today. The company, owned and controlled by Larry Goodman, said in a statement that the blockades were “needless and irresponsible”.

IFA President Joe Healy today stated that while ABP said prices would increase, the company gave no specific figures in its statement. 

“This is typical of the lack of transparency from meat factories,” Healy said in a statement issued this morning. 

“From talking to farmers, it would seem that generally the price rises appear to be 5c/kg for heifers and 10c/kg for steers.

“This still leaves the Irish price well short of the Bord Bia EU Benchmark and it remains over 50c off the UK price as their market continues to strengthen. The UK price increased again last week and sterling improved to 84p/€ last Friday,” he said.

Healy said the IFA will continue its protest until there is “a substantial price increase”.

“We don’t have to wait until ‘price setting Friday’, as ABP insisted in their press statement. This can happen any day. This sort of controlling practice only serves to fuel the belief amongst farmers that ABP are abusing their dominant position in the market.”

He called on other meat processors “to break from this practice and announce a further price increase immediately, in line with increases in the market”.

‘Appalled’ 

Healy stated that farmers are “also appalled” to see Tesco advertising ‘half price’ beef in the last few days.

“This unsustainable discounting puts downward pressure on beef prices and is an insult to farmers and the work they do,” he said.

A spokesperson for Tesco told TheJournal.ie the company has “always maintained a good working relationship with the IFA and in recent weeks had a very constructive meeting, so today’s action at our distribution centre is regrettable”.

“All Tesco own-label fresh beef is sourced through processors, who agree prices directly with farmers. The price customers pay for beef products in our stores is not related to the price farmers receive from the processors. As a business we pay for any price promotions we run.

“Tesco supports the work of the Beef Taskforce and agrees that it is the correct mechanism for resolving the current challenges in the beef sector.”

In a statement issued on Friday, ABP said Healy and the IFA “were fully aware that market indications pointed towards a cattle price increase in Ireland”. 

“The price paid by ABP for cattle will always be determined by the prevailing market conditions and those conditions have recently improved. ABP can confirm, as was indicated on Tuesday at the Beef Task Force, that it will increase the base price of cattle for deliveries from next Monday (today),” the statement read. 

A spokesperson for ABP today said the company won’t be commenting beyond the statement issued last week. 

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54 Comments
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    Mute Jim O Brien - TechBuzz Ireland
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:32 AM

    Not a way to get people on your side

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    Mute jamesdecay
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:47 AM

    @Jim O Brien – TechBuzz Ireland: I’m on their side.

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    Mute TheHeathen
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:58 AM

    @Jim O Brien – TechBuzz Ireland: Anyone that knows anything about Larry Goodman and the transfer of state wealth to private hands in this country, should be on the farmers or the ordinary workers’ side.

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    Mute Karl Charlie
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:00 AM

    @Jim O Brien – TechBuzz Ireland: i agree, if they arent getting what they want for beef then get rid of your cows and start farming something that will make money like hemp

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    Mute Jim O Brien - TechBuzz Ireland
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:32 AM

    @jamesdecay: I’m on their side other ways of going about things though

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    Mute Jim O Brien - TechBuzz Ireland
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:32 AM

    @TheHeathen: I’m on their side but other ways to get results. Disrupting others is not that way

    47
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    Mute ☘
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:45 AM

    @Jim O Brien – TechBuzz well father ted protests don’t work

    28
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    Mute Thomas Claffey
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:25 AM

    @jamesdecay: me too

    7
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    Mute Thomas Claffey
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:27 AM

    @TheHeathen:Iam months side of farmers as Tesco say every penny counts

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Dec 9th 2019, 12:59 PM

    @Karl Charlie: How about Opium Poppies??

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    Mute Karl Charlie
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    Dec 9th 2019, 5:08 PM

    @John Mc Donagh: opium is a drug hemp isnt, its used to make paper, biodegradable cups, clothes, tablecloths,baskets furniture etc go get educated because your response is completely idiotic and uneducated

    8
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    Mute john
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:37 AM

    You have to fight for what is right in this country just look at France

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    Mute StillNotNews
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:05 AM

    @john: There fighting for self interests, More EU subsidies needed, when is the last time you seen a tractor at a housing protest

    148
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    Mute Roger Paltry
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:57 AM

    @StillNotNews: If it was Landlords protesting about housing, there would be plenty of tractors there!

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    Mute Pierre Maanen
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:48 AM

    @john: You can’t compare Irish farmers to the French ones John. Can you see a farmer driving up Kildare street with a 10 ton manure and opening up? Well that is a French way of protest, and it work.

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    Mute Conoroconnor
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    Dec 9th 2019, 11:34 AM

    @john: the latest national strike in France was a protest against pension reforms which would see the public service pensionable age in some jobs rise from 52 to 62. Do you think being able to retire at 52 with a full pension is right or financially sustainable?

    24
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    Mute pat seery
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    Dec 9th 2019, 12:13 PM

    @john: Are they fighting to hold members or fighting for price

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    Mute y6Qe5BN3
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:42 AM

    Fair play to the farmers for making a stand, too much income is being diverted from the powerless solo supplier to corporations

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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:24 AM

    @y6Qe5BN3: Maybe they should have think about that when they are voting FFG in the next election, you reap what you sow suck it up farmers you put FFG into power now you finally have to deal with their rot and I for one am delighted.

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    Mute Paddy J
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:08 AM

    @Peter Hughes: I can’t see them switching their vote to Soc Dems, Solidarity/PBP or the Greens when they don’t even put up candidates in rural Ireland.

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    Mute jimmyd123
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:37 AM

    Why dont the farmers just stop supplying the beef producers? This would have a far more reaching affect. And on a another note, farmers seem to get away with what other members in society would not. If say climate prtestors blocked the department of the eviorment Gards stright and moved away.

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    Mute Tony Brady
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:53 AM

    @jimmyd123: farmers are the beef producers

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    Mute Barry
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:06 AM

    @Tony Brady: yes and as such they coukd refuse to sell the beef at the low prices they are unhappy about

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    Mute Anthony David
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:16 AM

    @Barry: then they are left with beef unsold, which leaves them with less than nothing after their overhead costs….hardly a smart move.

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:38 AM

    @Anthony David:

    The meat producers also have nothing to sell and are left with staff standing around doing nothing!

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    Dec 9th 2019, 12:23 PM

    @Wreck Tangle: the meat factories can let their already low paid staff go at the drop of a hat, which has been widely reported on over the last few months. Factories also maintain extensive feed lots of cattle so they can weather short term disruption with minimal real impact. Basically, Larry always wins.

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    Mute Anthony David
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    Dec 9th 2019, 1:18 PM

    @Wreck Tangle: the farmers are the meat producers…they tend to the cows…..the factories are the processors. Knock on effects are what the farmers are aiming for, so to comment on your point I am glad they are left standing around….it means its doing what it is supposed to do.

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    Mute JH66
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:50 AM

    If what you work at is no longer viable you do something else. Why are beef farmers always looking for handouts and why do we keep having to subsidise them. If my business goes bust because people no longer want what I produce no one is going to come and bail me out.

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    Mute Donal Kearns
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:56 AM

    @JH66: for a good quality animal processed in ireland, the total figure after sale is €2,700 roughly! The farmer gets about €1,200 of that while the remainder goes to the processor and retailer. The point being if the farmer got another €150 per animal, there would be profit hopefully, what’s wrong with the original figure being split considering the farmers investment takes 2 years while the others have it in and gone in a month. There are challenges but it’s not that the industry isn’t viable, it’s that it’s been monopolised and the people in the middle are taking every cent they can get!

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    Mute jamesdecay
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:06 AM

    @Donal Kearns: fair play. That’s the most succinct and clear explanation of the whole beef crisis I’ve read yet. Some commentators could do with reading it before they post.

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    Mute Eamonn O Connell
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:43 AM

    @JH66: they’re not looking for handouts. Just a fair price for their products. It’s like a worker going on strike and picketing a factory for better wages when their company is making billions and paying pittance

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    Mute Anthony David
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    Dec 9th 2019, 1:24 PM

    @JH66:you sir, havent a clue.

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    Mute Pierre Lecake
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:51 AM

    From what I understand based on comments here Larry Goodman pretty much controls the beef processing market because he has the only license for disposal of offal. Other meat processing plants have to go to him for offal disposal and if farmers decided to build their own meat processing co-op he might n’t dispose of their offal so its a non runner.
    Have I got that correct?
    Conspiracy theorists point out the licence was granted to him by Simon Coveny who is married to his niece.
    Does anyone know the process for getting this licence. Is there a fee for it. Was it tendered for. Does it depend on having the correct facilities for offal disposal and Goodman was the only person who had the money to invest. Are there any other licences available but nobody has applied for them. It would be nice if the Journal could do an investigation / fact check so we could have the full picture. On the face of it one man has been granted a monopoly by a government minister he is distantly related to

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    Mute Dav Nagle
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:02 AM

    I respect the farmers for doing something about it, we all should stand like this for the bad hospitals etc..

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 10th 2019, 2:49 AM

    @Dav Nagle: Try getting money from a farmer when your an agricultural contractor, should agricultural contractors go on strike now too??? You can’t complain about being ill treated when you ill treat others???

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    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:53 AM

    Don’t support the farmers all the massive tractors worth tens of thousands and they say they have nothing mmmmm.

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    Mute Scott Hazel
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:37 AM

    @Fran O’Keeffe: on finance?

    39
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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:47 AM

    @Scott Hazel: Why would a non profitable business take out 100k+ finance?

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    Mute Ole dan tucker
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    Dec 9th 2019, 12:15 PM

    @Fran O’Keeffe: tractor as essential to farming beef now as the cattle themselves

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    Mute Anthony David
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    Dec 9th 2019, 1:19 PM

    @Fran O’Keeffe: Do you even know how a farm operates, your comment suggests you have no idea….and look im not in the humour of a slagging match so if you haven’t a clue, which you appear not to, then just leave it at that.

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    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
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    Dec 9th 2019, 5:19 PM

    @Scott Hazel: still have to pay for them

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    Mute Scott Hazel
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    Dec 9th 2019, 9:36 PM

    @Fran O’Keeffe: yep, it’s part of their costs..

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    Mute shoegazin-ledgebag
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:39 AM

    when are they going to blockade Irish supermarket suppliers?

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    Mute kMc
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:00 AM

    People dont eat as much red meat these days. Farmers should get a fair price but the demand will reduce going forward.

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Dec 9th 2019, 10:46 AM

    Farmers, build your own abattoirs!! Come together as a cooperative, if there is as much money as claimed, investors will be lining up!

    Western economies are consuming less and less beef, this decline is expected to intensify. Countries like China will become more and more important. If pricing seems bad today, good luck if this comes home to roost!

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    Mute Steve O'Connor
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    Dec 9th 2019, 11:46 AM

    @Wreck Tangle: Larry Goodman has the only license to process offal meaning farmers cannot set up in competition. See the post above.

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Dec 9th 2019, 11:58 AM

    @Steve O’Connor:

    I read this already but the post also asks about the license.

    The offal license seems to be the ace up the sleeve of the middle man. Have other meat producers applied and been rejected?

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    Mute Brin
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:39 AM

    Below cost selling is borne by the retailer only. It doesn’t affect the price of beef paid. Blockades at distributors who put Irish beef on shelves definitely does. If supply can only be guaranteed for 364/365, then that’s 3c in every €10 steak not passed on to farmers.

    26
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Dec 9th 2019, 8:44 AM

    @Brin: are you kidding?

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    Mute Anthony David
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    Dec 9th 2019, 1:21 PM

    @Brin I really wish my masters in Economics didn’t take so long now that I have read your comment….no need for all those years in college after Brins take on how things work. To say its nonsensical would be an understatement

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    Mute Paul Dooley
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    Dec 9th 2019, 1:31 PM

    Why don’t they do a sit in In Fine Gael

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    Mute Kathleen O Connor
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    Dec 9th 2019, 6:09 PM

    Muck savages the lot of them

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    Mute Mark Dawson
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    Dec 10th 2019, 12:47 AM

    fair play to them we should be all sticking behind each other in this country when it comes to industrial action, divide and conquer is how the big boys win stay together we do

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    Mute Kathleen O Connor
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    Dec 9th 2019, 6:10 PM

    No freedom of speech in this country either

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