Farmers and factories seek to resolve dispute

Disputing farmers and meat processors will be hoping that today’s Beef Forum will deliver some progress in their long-running stalemate on beef prices and factory kill specifications.

Hosted by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, the talks begin with relations at a low ebb between processors and producers. Farmers arrive on foot of a 48-hour IFA-led blockade of 14 key meat factories.

Meat Industry Ireland, the Ibec group which represents leading meat factories in Ireland, says it had considered taking legal action to prevent a second series of blockades. It estimated that the IFA’s recent 24-hour protest had cost them €10m-€15m.