Meat Industry Ireland has pulled out of participating in the latest beef talks as protests continue at 20 meat factories around the country.
Farmers have been protesting about the prices they receive for beef since July.
Talks between the Department of Agriculture, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and beef farmers resumed this morning as protests by farmers continue around the country.
MII met with the independent chair of the talks Michael Dowling and confirmed their intention to pull out.
The association said in a statement that some 20 plants representing 80% of processing capacity remain blockaded.
“During an initial engagement with the independent chair and government officials, MII communicated that protesters had failed to step back from factory gate blockades and had instead intensified these illegal blockades,” the statement said.
“MII requested the minister and independent chairman to use their best endeavours to have blockades lifted to enable talks.”
Round tables discussions were due to begin this evening at Backweston in Co. Kildare.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed had warned both sides that legal action and blockades would have to stop before talks could take place.
The group said it is adjourning its participation in the talks “until all illegal blockades are lifted”.
“The extent of the continued illegal blockading has placed factory employees in peril of lay-offs and prevented beef farmers from having their factory ready cattle processed,” the statement added.
“Furthermore, the blockades have put in jeopardy national and international customers of Irish beef.”
MII said that failure to suspend the illegal blockades shows the absence of leadership by Mr Creed to deliver a successful outcome to any such talks.
“This was also evident on the previous occasion when an agreement was reached in talks brokered by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but subsequently reneged upon by Beef Plan.”
