Factories Which Re-open Must Pay Increased Bonuses Immediately

IFA President Joe Healy said that as factories re-open, they must pay the increased bonuses in the deal with immediate effect.   “Factories should come forward with a strong base price and pay the new bonuses,” he said.

“This agreement is not perfect, but I want to make it clear that it applies equally to all farmers regardless of their scale,” he said.

Joe Healy reminded farmers that key components of the agreement include the immediate implementation of the following;

• The base price at individual plant level applies to all steers and heifers regardless of age or breed.
• An immediate increase of 8c/kg in the current in-spec bonus for steers and heifers, from 12c/kg to 20c/kg.
• The immediate introduction of a new bonus of 8c/kg for steers and heifers aged between 30 to 36 months, which meet all non-age related existing in-spec criteria.
• The introduction of a new in-spec bonus of 12c/kg for steers and heifers under 30 months in the categories of grade O- and fat score 4+, which currently do not qualify for any bonus.

“There are other aspects of the agreement that will take time to implement, but the Minister should move on these immediately,” he said.

“The Chairman of the new beef market Task Force should be appointed immediately and the group should meet in the next two weeks. We need to keep up the momentum for change,” he said.