We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
INDEPENDENT TD MATTIE McGrath has said he wants Minster for Agriculture Michael Creed to apologise for comments yesterday regarding death threats made to workers in a beef company.
Tipperary TD McGrath said he wants an apology over the comments which some farmers have argued appear to defend meat factory injunctions against farmers because they alluded to these alleged death threats.
Farmers from around the country ended their tractor demonstration near the Dáil earlier today which had been ongoing since yesterday. The farmers had demanded action on the price of beef and accused Minister Creed of letting Irish farmers down.
“I want him [Creed] to apologise to this House for the wrong that he committed perpetrating on those decent people yesterday,” McGrath said in the Dáil chamber today.
“I salute the farmers in the protest. They are on their knees and ye have abandoned them and ignored them because ye are in bed with Larry Goodman and the big beef barons and ye won’t touch them.”
Creed said in the Dáil yesterday that senior management in beef producer company C&D Foods had “death threats issued against them, and their partners and families have been intimidated”. The minister said that senior gardaí are aware of the threats.
Some farmers have argued this statement seemed to defend meat factor injunctions against farmers by mentioning alleged death threats, the Irish Farmers Journal reported.
Creed has said he didn’t make connections or allegations that the protesters in the tractor demonstration or those who have been served with injunctions were the ones who made the alleged threats.
A garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána is aware of incidents of phone calls received by a person but neither an allegation or formal written complaint of a ‘death threat’ has been made.”
A discussion was held on the beef taskforce and the implementation of the beef agreement in the Dáil today. Creed was not in the chamber during the discussion.
McGrath said he was shocked Creed wasn’t there today after his comments yesterday.
“If he [Creed] doesn’t come in here to this house and retract what he said yesterday, an outrageous slur, he’s not fit for office, he should resign,” said McGrath.
TD Denis Naughten said farmers were frustrated at the moment, adding that “what farm families need now is money”.
Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae said the current situation for farmers is not sustainable.
“Everybody is making money out of beef except the people that produce it, and that’s not fair and that’s not right,” said Healy-Rae.
With reporting by Christina Finn.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Nobody pays any attention to Mattie McGrath.
@Fred the Muss: Lord help us.
@Fred the Muss: you just did, and many more should stand up and support the farmers in their need for a fair price increase.. I fully support their blockage of Dublin streets and its their only way to get their just rewards..
@Fred the Muss: the good people of Tipp do
@Fred the Muss: yourself and a lot of Tipperary people do.
@Fred the Muss: Well you have just paid your attention to Mattie McGrath TD.
@Thomas O Connor: who do the farmers vote for fffg get what you sow
@Thomas O Connor: I support the farmers but if there were death threats is the minister wrong to mention it? Given what’s happened lately with ex Quinn group
@Dan2078: like fook…he’s a gombeen of the highest order. Son in the same category as Healy Raes offspring.
@Fred the Muss:
Except for the several thousand loyal constituents who vote him back in every election cycle. Mattie has one of the highest records in Irish electoral history of being returned with above quota first prefs every election cycle since the start of his political career. He is one of the most popular politicians in the history of the Irish state. His record speaks for itself.
@Conoroconnor: Read the article again FFS. There were NO death threats. Gardai said they are aware of a phone call made to a meat factory employee, but have received NO report of any death threat.
In other words, Creed has made this up. If he has lied to the Dail in an attempt to blacken the names of protesting farmers then Mattie McGrath is 100% correct – he is unfit for public office.
the dail is falling apart. it appears to have passed a critical point now. not right that the country is being left in the hands of dail that is dead on its feet
@alan: that’s a bit dramatic
@Matt Connolly: only if you set the bar so low that anything goes
@alan: watch out with comments like that, i believe they are renovating the Dail soon.
Who knows how much the cost will be.
All they need is stepped rows of chairs/benches and a high minimum attendance record enforced.
Mattie–anything for a headline
@Joxer23: the emmissions levels from beef agri are false. no account is taken of carbon sequestration of our green meadow lands. other countries produce beef from cattle in slatted sheds fed on hormones and in their case emmissions are off the charts since no carbon sequestration. Our govt needs to start reporting real emmissions…not axaggerated figures.
@Damian Moylan: 45% of our non-ETA emissions come from agriculture. This percentage allows for all carbon equivalent displaced. You can source that information from SEAI or the EPA.
Mattie you everlasting bag of wind.
Will Mattie McGrath apologise for all his disgusting comments made over the years?
@Ci: like what?
@Commonfeckingsense: “we have our eyes closed on whose coming in” supporting Verona Murphy says it all
“The fat lady hasn’t sang here…I’m not taking about the chairperson of the committee”
Calling a father who lost his daughter and wife to a learner driver and wanting the law to change so they can be charged as “unreasonable and traumatised” says it all really.
Google told me. Could’ve told you.
Do you have an example to go with your question?
Mattie has one of the highest records in Irish electoral history of being returned with above quota first prefs every election cycle since the start of his political career. He is one of the most popular politicians in the history of the Irish state. His record speaks for itself.
There is a whole host of things creed should resign for, worst ag minister in the history of the state and that took some achieving
They big 4 run beef inc. put the local slaughter houses to bed on health concerns and now control market. Same as USA. They have plan for without the farmers too large scale US style feed lots. Farmers need a direct to market system producers and big retailers slaughtering them. We don’t choose them their is just little other options.
@Albert Brennerman: Boo hoo!….well who put FFG in election after election?….yes you guessed it the farmers….delighted for all your short sighted I’m all right Jack mentality hopefully has now finally caught up with you all, all ye care about is getting handouts off the taxpayers and FFG get you vote no matter how they destroy the country…..suck it up I say its called karma haha
@Peter Hughes: Everything you eat is produced by farmers
@Peter Hughes: so farmers vote in Leo and his urban colleagues ???? Dope
@Kate Lawlor: not everything…….sea fish?
@Kate Lawlor: Ya but not by these farmers, they produce beef which is predominantly for the export market.
We allow/and import beef from other eu counties for sale in ireland but i cant find one piece of meat in a shop stating where its from its all irish labelled so where is all this eu beef going that we import
Is mattie McGrath saying death threats weren’t made???
@Michael MC Evoy: no, he’s saying they shouldn’t be reported. Unbelievable as that sounds.
@Conoroconnor:
That’s not what he said at all.
@Michael MC Evoy: Yes. Because NO death threats were made, according to Gardai. They said they are aware of a phone call made to a meat factory employee, but have received NO report of any death threat being made.
So McGrath is correct, and Creed has either been smoking pot or is simply lying.
@Conoroconnor: Stop lying and read the article again. McGrath did NOT say that. Who are you, a shill for Larry Goodman?
I’m sorry its off subject,, but go have a look at Donald’s latest tweet,, I’m pi$$ing laughing…..
@Devilsavocado: surprised the journal haven’t reported on it, given their obsession with the great man
@Devilsavocado: Can you give me the cliffnotes? Donny has me blocked on twitter.
@Devilsavocado: Do you mean the photoshopped Rocky III poster image with Trump’s head in place of Stallone’s?
@Devilsavocado: new wallpaper for the phone.
@Devilsavocado: Adriaaaaan!!!!
Mattie “National Shop Steward” McGrath
Hardly matters whether He apologises or not , He should NEVER have been a Minister, He is a disaster, not a clue has he. Has to be he worst Minister for Agriculture ever, and that is saying something. A complete Ludremaun .
. . . to apologise to this House for the wrong that he committed perpetrating on those decent people yesterday,” McGrath said in the Dáil chamber today.
WTF does this mean?
The goon is illiterate as well as stupid!
have your say