As IFA protesters head into their fourth week both inside and outside Bord Bia headquarters on Pembroke Road in Dublin, there still appears to be no end in sight.

The protestors remain resolute and have reiterated that their physical and mental wellbeing is good but you have to wonder what toll it’s all taking on them.

Both sides are well versed in the art of negotiation and both should stand back, reflect and at least talk about the issues involved.

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Last Friday’s stakeholder meeting wasn’t the correct medium for this. The minister’s attempts to move things on hasn’t progressed anywhere.

Highlighting changes needed to the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme and educating farmers on the intricacies of world meat markets won’t solve this matter.

There was an option floated last week of Larry Murrin stepping aside to allow some of those discussions to take place, but this wasn’t entertained.

In the space of a few weeks, farmers have gone from working alongside Bord Bia to almost despising everything they do.

Both sides have a big job of work in trying to restore farmer confidence for the good of the Irish livestock industry.