Meat Industry Ireland (MII) today condemned the proposed IFA 24-hour factory blockade as unnecessary, misguided and counterproductive.

The Ibec group that represents meat processors said the action would disrupt business and damage Ireland’s export reputation, without having any impact on EU beef prices.

In a statement the group said cattle prices are strengthening and the trend from the market is positive. "While Irish cattle prices have been weaker this year (down 10-12% from the record high levels of 2013), prices across the entire EU have fallen. This is a direct result of a significant drop in EU beef consumption, which has fallen by 700,000 tonnes since 2010.

"Notwithstanding this, Irish beef production is up 15% year on year so we are selling an additional 75,000 tonnes of beef into a market where consumption has fallen dramatically. Exports in 2014 will exceed €2 billion in value, repeating the record levels achieved in 2013," MII said.