Processors want compensation

Pork and bacon processors in Northern Ireland, are looking for a share of the 180 million euros, that is being handed out to the industry south of the border.

Companies like Cookstown Bacon, now Vion Foods, who handle 8,000 pigs a week from the south of Ireland, believe that they are also entitled to a share of the money.

Two ministers from Stormont ( Northern Ireland Parliament), are hoping to have meetings with their counterparts in Dublin later this week to discuss the situation.

Eleven companies in Northern Ireland, received pig meat that was subject to the massive meat re-call of last week.

The cull and slaughter of 100,000 pigs, alledely contaminated by the feed containing dioxins, has yet to take place, the government in the Republic of Irelands have made assurances, that this will be done promptly and the meat will not go into the food chain.