The EU Commission proposals to reduce beef production had "serious shortcomings" in relation to their effectiveness and equity between member-states, the Minister for Agriculture has said.
In his first comment since the plan was announced by Mr Franz Fischler, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Walsh said he was particularly concerned the Commission was targeting the suckler cow sector to reduce beef production.
Mr Walsh said in a statement that this could have a disproportionate impact on Ireland and he would be seeking to have the balance redressed at the meeting of the agriculture council on February 26th.
He promised "tough and detailed negotiations" over the coming months and said only the proposals on intervention and the special purchase scheme would come into effect this year. The other measures, if agreed, would not be implemented until next January 1st.
He said the purchase for destruction scheme had been operating satisfactorily and had succeeded in putting a floor on over 30-month-old cattle prices.
The Department had overcome considerable logistical problems and its operation would be continually reviewed. More than 72,000 animals have been slaughtered since the scheme was introduced on January 10th at an estimated cost of more than £20 million to the taxpayer.
A spokesman for the Irish Meat Association said factories were being kept open but there was little demand for beef in the mainland European markets, while competition from German beef was strong in the markets which were open.
Mr Derek Deane, chairman of the Irish Farmers' Association's livestock committee, claimed yesterday that an attempt by factories to lower the price of cattle under 30 months for beef had failed and they were now paying 86p to 87p a lb.
The market position had improved with increased demand and 15,000 cattle were slaughtered for commercial sale last week. He said some plants were paying 1p-2p over the 90p a lb destruction price.
Agri Aware, the organisation set up to improve the image of agriculture, farming and the food industry, yesterday said it had circulated 50,000 copies of a BSE fact sheet through supermarkets and the Associated Craft Butchers network.
Mr John McCullen, chairman of Agri Aware, said the information leaflet, drawn up with assistance of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, dealt with consumer queries on BSE and vCJD.
Dr Patrick Wall, chief executive of the Food Safety Authority, said beef which came from cattle under 30 months old, which had never been exposed to contaminated meat and bone meal, was perfectly safe to eat.