ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan has called on Minister Coveney to confirm a date for the next meeting of the beef forum.

“The beef forum is due to meet again this month, but so far, there has been no word from the Minister,” said Mr. Phelan. “Little or no progress has been made on the issues discussed at recent meetings, including the marketing of bull beef and the classification grid, and it’s time the Minister called the stakeholders to account on this.”

“The beef crisis hasn’t gone away, after all. Prices may have improved, but they are still well below where they should be given the strengthening of sterling and the drop in throughput,” he continued. “The increase in calf births this year, combined with a decrease in live exports, will soon lead again towards over-supply, and the Minister must take action now to prevent a return of the crisis.”