Dairy farmer Bill O Keeffe on his farm in Kilkenny.
Dairy farm families in the southeast are welcoming the news this week that the High Court has rejected the challenge to the Kilkenny cheese development at Belview, Co Kilkenny. Hopefully this project can move forward now through the second half of 2021 and help to secure the incomes of thousands of families across the region.
With no more delays, we could have this plant up and running for peak milk in 2024 and reduce the impact of the peak supply restrictions introduced by Glanbia last month.
These restrictions imposed by Glanbia indicate that this plant is needed for current cow numbers in the country, rather than an increase in cow numbers in the future. Hopefully farmers get the opportunity to engage in some meaningful dialogue with An Taisce on the best route forward for the Irish dairy industry and for the farmers involved in that industry, before any more objections are lodged with our legal system.