Deering highlights potential monopoly with sale of Slaney Meats

Fine Gael TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, Pat Deering, has today (Tuesday) used the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to highlight a potential monopoly which has arisen in beef and lamb markets, due to the sale of Slaney Meats to ABP Food Group.

“Today I attended the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, where I raised the matter of the sale of Slaney Meats to ABP Food Group. This sale is causing huge concern among the farming community as it gives ABP control of 40% of Ireland’s sheep market and 28% of the beef market. This sale raises serious concerns on competition grounds.

“As a result of my raising this at the Agriculture Committee today, it was decided that we, the Committee, would write to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, asking them to assess the matter. We will also be writing to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, as well as the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton about this matter.

“I also raised this matter with the Taoiseach in the Dáil last week and he said he would take it up with the Minister for Agriculture.

“I am reassured that my colleagues on the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee are taking the sale of Slaney meats very seriously and we will ensure that it is examined carefully in the best interests of the general public.”