MEP discusses future plans with O'Kane Poultry
05 May 2009
Jim Allister MEP has met with Tony O’Neill, Managing Director of O’Kane Poultry and Billy O’Kane, company Chairman. The company’s plans for expansion, and the availability of Government funding, was discussed.
The MEP said,
“I am encouraged by Management’s ambition to grow the O’Kane business substantially in the near future, which I trust will result in continued expansion of the Northern Ireland poultry industry as a whole. I would urge DARD and Invest NI to be forthcoming with whatever assistance can be given to permit one of our leading companies to grasp new opportunities for growth.”
“I am concerned to learn that retailers are heavily discounting poultry meat more frequently than has been the case in the past, which obviously is impacting on the profitability of the industry. This is a negative development on the back of rising feed and energy costs which has affected the industry over the past 18 months.”
“Our largest poultry companies, O’Kanes and Moy Park are to be commended for the manner in which they grown their sector at great benefit to the local economy. Government must now play its part in enabling growth in that sector to continue, by investing in the Rose Energy project, and in providing much needed financial assistance so both companies can invest in their futures”.
ENDS
