One of the country's largest retail distribution centres is being blockaded by farmers in a protest over beef prices.
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has begun a 12-hour protest outside the Aldi nationwide warehouse in Naas, blocking access to delivery trucks.
Scores of farmers set up the blockade from 7am this morning.
Gardaí have arrived pic.twitter.com/SOk8zmUFCS
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) December 5, 2019
The warehouse distributes products to stores all over the country, but this morning trucks are being prevented from entering or leaving the site.
The IFA called the protest after claiming retailers need to address the poor price farmers are paid for their cattle.
They are demanding an immediate beef price increase.
Trucks are queuing up on the road to get into Aldi’s distribution centre in Naas. They can’t get access as farmers belonging to the IFA have mounted a 12 hour blockade over beef prices. pic.twitter.com/hhd9eQPiJJ
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) December 5, 2019
IFA President Joe Healy says the price differences have left farmers very angry:
“The price index has brought transparency to it and that transparency has shown a huge gap between the Irish gap and the UK price and the Irish price and the Irish price and the EU average.
“There is huge anger and huge frustration among the farmers here.”
The association is warning that unless they see a beef price increase further protests will follow.
Reporting from Shane Beatty in Naas, County Kildare
