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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Pig industry crisis

Summary

Deputy Mattie McGrath highlighted a crisis in pig exports, labour shortages and the Government's refusal to meet affected producers. The Tánaiste said the pandemic had shown Ireland's dependence on migrant labour and expected workers to return as travel reopened.

There is a crisis in the pig industry because of a lack of exports of pigs to Northern Ireland. A company called Karro is the main importer there. In July and August, 12,000 fewer pigs were exported to the North. There is an animal welfare issue because producers cannot get staff. Their eastern European staff left during the lockdown, and now they do not have the staff. This is a crisis, but the Taoiseach, who was in south County Tipperary last week, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who was in Fermoy, refused to meet the Ryan family, who are massive employers. Will the Tánaiste, as the Minister with responsibility for enterprise, look into this and try to get it sorted out? Pigs are going to be sent back to farms and animal welfare issues are going to arise, despite the best efforts of the pig farmers. This a huge industry. As I said, 12,000 fewer pigs were sent up to the North over eight weeks this year. A disproportionate cut is being inflicted on Irish pig producers. This matter must be sorted out. There is a national crisis with employees for every industry, but this is particularly acute because of the animal welfare aspect.

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I very much hear the Deputy's concerns. One of the many things the pandemic has taught us is the extent to which we are dependent on people coming from central and eastern Europe who are willing to work here. They are often willing to work in jobs Irish people do not want to do. Britain, which has left the Single Market, is really learning that because it will not see these people return. Thankfully, we will see people from eastern Europe come back to Ireland to take up those jobs. I anticipate that return of migrants will happen now that travel bans are being lifted and flights restored. If the Deputy wishes to pass on anything in relation to the particular business he mentioned, I will be happy to take a look at it.

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