The Taoiseach has announced €70 million in grant aid to the beef and sheep meat processing industry.
Mr Cowen said it was expected that another €100 million would be invested by the industry itself.
The investment is designed to improve the competitiveness of the industry and will create another 800 jobs.
Reacting to Opposition accusations that the announcement was an ‘election stunt’, the Taoiseach said he did not share their negativity, which he said people were sick of.
Mr Cowen said the Opposition were ‘so addicted to being part of the bad news brigade’ that they could not allow the Government to get any good news out.
