ICMSA increase pressure on Minister to intervene in Fallen Animal Collection Dispute

ICMSA has increased the pressure on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to immediately intervene in the current fallen animal collection service dispute that is causing serious concern to all livestock farmers. If implemented, the proposed new fee structure that has been announced by the Department will see farmers pay significantly higher prices for the disposal of their fallen animals according to ICMSA Deputy President Lorcan McCabe.   

“Yet again, a dispute arises, and the Department’s solution is to pass the hit along to farmers – an old tactic which is no longer acceptable.  We now have a situation where companies have a maximum charge for collecting certain aged animals, so for instance they can charge up to €30 euro for the collection of a calf up to three months under the Departments’ proposal. The problem is that farmers strongly suspect that the private companies won’t see this maximum charge – instead they’ll see it as the normal fee to charge farmers. This represents a massive fifty percent increase in the cost for farmers which would not be tolerated by any sector of society and farmers shouldn’t be expected to shoulder this cost”, said Mr. McCabe.

Concerned ICMSA members have contacted the Association regarding the significantly increased costs and the possibility of fallen animals not being collected: “Farmers have no-one behind them and will have the bear – on their own – this massive increase if they are to comply with the law. We are in the middle of the peak spring calving period and the situation cannot be allowed to continue where farmers are being charged multiples in terms of disposal costs”, said Mr. McCabe.  

Mr. McCabe said that ICMSA rejected completely the Department’s proposals for increased charges and the association is calling for a meeting of all the relevant stakeholders to be convened as quickly as possible to resolve the current impasse and agree a fair and realistic schedule of charges.   

“Farmers have every right to be both angered and concerned by this significantly increased cost of removal and the Minister must ensure that this matter is dealt with immediately”, concluded Mr. McCabe.

Ends       26 February 2020

Lorcan McCabe, 086-3979804

Deputy President, ICMSA.

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office