Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is to reconvene talks on Saturday 14 September with a view to finding an urgent solution to the current dispute.
“Now is the time for people to take a step back from entrenched positions and to take a positive approach towards resolving their differences," the Minister said.
Engagement
"I have engaged intensively with all sides and have a deep understanding of the outstanding issues, and the emotion, involved.
"I expect all sides to recognise the urgency of the current situation, and to enter talks in good faith and with a firm intention to reach agreement tomorrow."
It is unclear whether the talks are conditional on legal action being dropped by processors and farmers leaving the gates of factories.
Both conditions have been seen, until now, as obstacles in the way of talks resuming.
The talks come as the availability of beef for retailers and food service outlets begins to bite.
Slaughtering to be suspended
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has said it is committed to working constructively to resolve the situation.
“We know farmers want to be able to sell their cattle, we know employees want to get back to work and we know customers want their orders for quality Irish beef to be fulfilled.
"All parties need to focus now on delivery of these goals and on finding a prompt resolution,” it said in a statement.
Existing limited stocks of beef must be allowed have free movement
“As requested by the Minister, beef slaughtering operations will remain suspended in blockaded plants during the talks.
"However, existing limited stocks of beef must be allowed [to] have free movement in/out of meat plants.
“This is critical to avoiding further loss of domestic and export customers for Irish beef, which would be to the long-term detriment of the sector,” said MII.
The meat processor representative body also insisted on an immediate resumption of sheep slaughtering in the two affected dual-species plants in the west, Dawn Ballyhaunis and Kepak Athleague.
This, it said, was to alleviate a serious build-up of factory-ready lambs in the most sheep-intensive region of the country.
Beef Plan Movement spokesman Dermot O'Brien said it is pleased that talks regarding the current beef crisis are to resume tomorrow morning.
"The Beef Plan Movement has stated that the concerns of Irish beef farmers have still not been addressed in full and tomorrow's talks have to focus in on how farmers get respect and a proper reward for their produce," he said.
"The current impasse, if allowed to continue, will increase farmer tension and Minister Creed must explore every avenue open to him in order to restore respect our farmers."
Independent Farmers of Ireland
Three spokespeople of the Independent Farmers of Ireland are included in Saturday's talks.
The group described this as a "major step forward" because it "shows that the concerns expressed by the men and women at the factory gates are finally being taken on board at a national level".
The groups said the trio "come to this with a clean slate and no preconceived notions. They are there simply there to relay information to and from the peaceful protestors and explain what is needed for a successful resolution to be found."
Read more
Irish beef sent to UK for processing – Bord Bia
Knackery strike leaves 3,000 dead cattle uncollected
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is to reconvene talks on Saturday 14 September with a view to finding an urgent solution to the current dispute.
“Now is the time for people to take a step back from entrenched positions and to take a positive approach towards resolving their differences," the Minister said.
Engagement
"I have engaged intensively with all sides and have a deep understanding of the outstanding issues, and the emotion, involved.
"I expect all sides to recognise the urgency of the current situation, and to enter talks in good faith and with a firm intention to reach agreement tomorrow."
It is unclear whether the talks are conditional on legal action being dropped by processors and farmers leaving the gates of factories.
Both conditions have been seen, until now, as obstacles in the way of talks resuming.
The talks come as the availability of beef for retailers and food service outlets begins to bite.
Slaughtering to be suspended
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has said it is committed to working constructively to resolve the situation.
“We know farmers want to be able to sell their cattle, we know employees want to get back to work and we know customers want their orders for quality Irish beef to be fulfilled.
"All parties need to focus now on delivery of these goals and on finding a prompt resolution,” it said in a statement.
Existing limited stocks of beef must be allowed have free movement
“As requested by the Minister, beef slaughtering operations will remain suspended in blockaded plants during the talks.
"However, existing limited stocks of beef must be allowed [to] have free movement in/out of meat plants.
“This is critical to avoiding further loss of domestic and export customers for Irish beef, which would be to the long-term detriment of the sector,” said MII.
The meat processor representative body also insisted on an immediate resumption of sheep slaughtering in the two affected dual-species plants in the west, Dawn Ballyhaunis and Kepak Athleague.
This, it said, was to alleviate a serious build-up of factory-ready lambs in the most sheep-intensive region of the country.
Beef Plan Movement spokesman Dermot O'Brien said it is pleased that talks regarding the current beef crisis are to resume tomorrow morning.
"The Beef Plan Movement has stated that the concerns of Irish beef farmers have still not been addressed in full and tomorrow's talks have to focus in on how farmers get respect and a proper reward for their produce," he said.
"The current impasse, if allowed to continue, will increase farmer tension and Minister Creed must explore every avenue open to him in order to restore respect our farmers."
Independent Farmers of Ireland
Three spokespeople of the Independent Farmers of Ireland are included in Saturday's talks.
The group described this as a "major step forward" because it "shows that the concerns expressed by the men and women at the factory gates are finally being taken on board at a national level".
The groups said the trio "come to this with a clean slate and no preconceived notions. They are there simply there to relay information to and from the peaceful protestors and explain what is needed for a successful resolution to be found."
Read more
Irish beef sent to UK for processing – Bord Bia
Knackery strike leaves 3,000 dead cattle uncollected
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