Imminent risks to animal welfare, rural livelihoods and dairy supply chain: DII
Dairy Industry Ireland urges deescalation of fuel protests to protect milk supply chains, animal welfare and rural operations
Print10 April 2026
Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) is urging a measured and immediate de-escalation of the ongoing nationwide fuel protests to prevent any further harmful disruption to the Irish dairy supply chain.
While it recognises the severe cost pressures driving these demonstrations, the resulting disruptions are presenting immediate operational and logistical challenges for its farmer suppliers, hauliers, and processing staff.
The Irish dairy sector operates on a highly time sensitive, continuous basis; milk is a perishable product that must be collected from farms and processed without delay.
Animal welfare
Beyond the immediate economic and operational threats to milk processing, these transport and fuel disruptions pose a severe, growing risk to animal welfare.
If feed production at its mills is curtailed and deliveries to farms are obstructed, livestock nutrition will be directly compromised.
Furthermore, restricted movement on its road networks severely hampers the ability of veterinary practitioners to reach farms and respond to animal health emergencies.
The welfare of its national herd is an absolute priority, and it is vital that essential feed, veterinary care, and emergency agricultural services can access rural Ireland without impediment.
Conor Mulvihill, director of Dairy Industry Ireland, said: “We fully understand the immense financial pressures facing individuals, transport operators, and businesses as a result of the current energy crisis.
“These are the exact same pressures our own processing workers, businesses and farming families are grappling with daily.
“However, the current protests are inadvertently placing the livelihoods of rural communities, the safety of our workforce, and the welfare of animals at acute risk.
“A breakdown in the essential food and agriculture supply chain serves no one.
“We urgently request that essential fuel & agricultural infrastructure, milk collections, and feed deliveries be allowed to operate unimpeded.
“We will be meeting Minister Heydon tomorrow morning to look for solutions and we urge all stakeholders to engage constructively with the Government to alleviate these energy pressures before significant damage is done to the sector.”
Read more: Dairy Industry Ireland welcomes publication of the Food Vision Dairy Report
© 2026, ShelfLife by Ryan Brennan
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