Musgraves and Tesco are to attend the next meeting of the Beef Market Taskforce in January.

It is also understood that German retailers Lidl and Aldi are set to attend the meeting on 9 January next year.

Musgraves said that it “supports the work of the beef taskforce” and has accepted the invitation to attend from its chair, Michael Dowling.

IFA president Joe Healy welcomed the invitation to retailers and the attendance of those who have replied.

The Department of Agriculture has said that retailers from Ireland and the UK have been invited to participate in the meeting to discuss market trends and requirements – specifically in relation to the Quality Payment System in-spec bonus criteria that is currently in operation in the Irish beef sector.