Sit-in ends at Dept of Agriculture

A seven-day sit-in at the Department of Agriculture has ended following marathon talks with Minister Joe Walsh.

A spokesman for the cattle traders group, the ICSA, says progress was made on a number of issues including cattle prices and export funds.

ICSA General Secretary Eddie Punch says Minister Walsh also gave a commitment to its members who have been adversely affected by the BSE crisis.

He says "the minister has assured us that he will actively pursue the possibility of securing some help for those farmers who sold cattle late last year and have been badly hit by the BSE crisis".