The board of Bord Bia is continuing to meet this Monday lunchtime, as the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) stepped up its presence at its protest action outside the State body’s headquarters.

Farmers arrived in tractors on Pembroke Road on Monday morning, parking up outside the building and also blocking the road and the carpark at the back of the building.

Gardaí are present on site, with a review of the situation ongoing.

Laois IFA chair Henry Burns said that when the board meeting is over, there will be a result “one way or another”.

“In fairness, every one that wanted to get in and out so far got in and out, and that will continue,” Burns said.

It is hoped that an agreement can be reached at the meeting to end the dispute between the IFA and Bord Bia this afternoon. The row centres on Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin importing Brazilian beef through his company Dawn Farm Foods in 2025.

IFA president Francie Gorman left the building via the back door around 1.15pm, as the board broke for a coffee break, to update the farm body on the situation.

The expectation is that the protest, both inside and outside the building, will end this Monday once a resolution is reached.

It is understood that the five protesters have to sign off on any resolution to the matter with the IFA leadership before it is given the green light by the association.

It is also understood that the board will not reconvene until the tractors are moved from the back entrance of Bord Bia, with negotiations taking place outside on that issue currently.