One of the country's largest retail distribution centres is being blockaded by farmers in a protest over beef prices.

The lifting of the injunctions against two people who had been protesting at the C&D pet food factory in Co Longford will, hopefully, allow commonsense to prevail in the ongoing beef prices dispute. Most importantly, it now gives an opportunity for the beef market taskforce, which was established in September, to convene without the threat of either further legal action by processors or more blockades by farmers. We have had more than enough of both.

The motley crew that caused havoc in Dublin did no favours for the majority of farmers who rightly want a fair price for produce, says Political Correspondent Elaine Loughlin

A delegation of farmers protesting in Dublin against low beef prices have met Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to discuss their concerns.

Injunctions remain in place against two protestors dating back to the summer’s beef protests - and remain a stumbling block to any talks on resolving the impasse between farmers and processors.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has told the Dáil that he was told about death threats to managers at C&D foods during a meeting with meat industry representatives.

Michael Coyle had tears in his eyes and dark circles under them when he spoke about his struggle to keep his family farm.

Farmers have left the St Stephens Green area of Dublin city centre following a protest that caused traffic chaos for more than 24 hours.

Latest: Fine Gael councillor Padraig Brady, who is subject to an injunction by C&D Foods, has acknowledged that a complaint was lodged with the Garda Pulse system about threats to the management of the company.

Farmers are protesting outside the Dáil this afternoon against what they see as the "annihilation" of family farms.

It is easy to empathise with beef producers who have not had a meaningful increase in income in many years. One of the arguments advanced in the current campaign is that farmers get more or less the same for their beef animals today that they got two decades ago. This is unsustainable and unless primary producers get a bigger slice of the cake then the future of Irish beef production must come into question.

Farmers are continuing to protest outside meat factories today despite High Court actions.

Farmers today blocked the entrance to the APB Meat Plant in Bandon, West Cork to highlight their frustration with dropping meat prices.

New laws forcing shops and supermarkets to give farmers a fair price for their milk will be a hot topic at a conference organised by Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan in Brussels.

Burning tyres sent plumes of black smoke into the air just metres from where EU Agriculture Ministers were meeting and police in riot gear held back thousands of farmers angry at falling prices for their produce.

Emergency measures by the main banks and the EU to assist farmers are being pushed by the Government, ahead of an expected plunge in dairy prices in 2015.

With Irish dairy farmers set to reap a bonanza as the fastest growing milk producers in the world over the next five years, according to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, the big challenge foreseen by Teagasc, the science engine room at the heart of Ireland’s multibillion-euro agri-food industry, is that milk prices could fall by a whopping 50% next year.

Angry beef farmers have begun a 48-hour protest outside every meat factory in Ireland in a row over low prices for cattle.

Meat price protests

Factories cannot afford to ignore the thousands of farmers who attended beef price protests which ended yesterday, the Irish Farmers Association has warned.

Future of farming

Motorists across the country faced major traffic delays today as hundreds of angry farmers held tractor protests in 29 towns and cities.

As world trade talks begin in Geneva today, the president of the Irish Farmer's Association has strongly criticised Peter Mandelson.