11 June 2008

IFA Mounts Protest At Lidl Supermarket

The Irish Farmers Association has picketing a Lidl supermarket in Co Kildare as part of a protest over the sale of imported pig meat.

The protest - on Wednesday - is the latest in a growing row over retailers refusal to use home grown produce, and instead importing cheaper fare from abroad.

The IFA says a survey by Bord Bia to monitor the Quality Assurance logo in supermarkets found that Lidl was selling no Irish pig meat.

As a result, farmers are picketing the Lidl outlet in Newbridge and are also vowing to target other retailers that are not supporting Irish producers.

On Tuesday, Irish fishermen carried out their own protest, blockading imports of cheap fish and highlighting the rising feul costs and effects of EU fishing quotas.

The Federation of Irish Fishermen had not sanctioned the protests, however, the federation is due to hold talks with Fisheries Minister Tony Killeen on Friday to discuss the problems facing the industry.

The disputes have been antagonised over concerns over the effects of the Lisbon Treaty on Ireland's domestic produce.

(DW)