Sinn Féin is warning that the latest COVID-19 outbreaks in Irish meat plants highlight the “wider issue” of low pay and poor conditions in the industry.

The outbreaks in factories at factories in the midlands led to a two-week lockdown in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.

Trade unions and meat industry representatives will appear before the Oireachtas committee this morning to discuss the situation

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) is expected to claim that “rigid enforcement controls” have been in place since the start of the summer and that the industry is being unfairly targeted over the recent outbreaks.

Meanwhile, SIPTU will warn that 90% of workers in the meat industry are not offered sick pay, forcing them to go to work even if they are feeling unwell.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson David Cullinane said it is time for real change in the industry.

“I am not talking about any one plant in particular but I think with that whole sector, we have had problems for a long time with pay and working conditions,” he said.

“Let’s be honest, one of the problems associated with meat plants was the fact that we have very vulnerable workers, people on very low levels of pay, people whose accommodation is paid for and they live in very cramped circumstances, often very close to the meat plants themselves.

“I know the trade unions have been raising concerns about pay but also working conditions in these settings for years and they have not got the attention they deserve.

“So, I hope one of the lessons that is learned from this is that we deal with the issues relating the welfare and health and safety of workers generally in meat plants.”

He said unannounced inspections at meat plants need to be ramped up immediately.

“That is one of the things we have been calling for in the last few weeks,” he said.

“By the way, the inspections have tapered off over the last number of weeks so the figures I got back were that in very early July there was an average of about 400 to 500 weekly inspections being carried out a weekly basis across all industries.

“That tapered off to about an average of 220 towards the end of July.

“Bear in mind, we are told there are 580 HSA inspectors available to do on-site inspections.

“That is about one inspection every two weeks per inspector. For me, that is not enough and they should be unannounced because to give notice defeats the purpose.”

The unions and industry body will appear before the first sitting of the committee today.