Irish pork plant up in smoke

The pigmeat processing plant was destroyed in the fire which forced production to come to a halt. Irish farmers are to export finished live pigs for the first time in 70 years.

Catastrophic trend
Former food minister and large-scale pig farmer, Ned O’Keeffe, said that the fire at the plant highlighted the catastrophic trend in recent years whereby Enterprise Ireland has stood by while strategic pig slaughter plants were successively closed.

“We have a requirement in Ireland for 50,000 pigs to be slaughtered each week – but Enterprise Ireland have done absolutely nothing, he added.”

The plant’s managers said that they cannot comment on any future plans. However, a short term contingency plan is currently underway for customers, employees and suppliers.

Employees are to attend a management meeting; and are being issued with a protective notice. Glanbia supplies 50% of the Irish pigmeat market.

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