Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

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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