Farmers in Donegal have stopped their pickets following a breakthrough in the long-running beef dispute.
Dozens of farmers in Carrigans have been protesting over the last five days, since Monday, outside the Foyle Meats factory.
Thousands of farmers in the Beef Plan Movement across Ireland had been picketing outside meat factories for 12 days in a dispute over prices.
Last night, both sides agreed to suspend their protests and legal actions immediately.
Talks will be held on Monday between both sides, after the intervention of Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.
Meat Industry Ireland was threatening to take legal action to prevent further damage to the factories – 14 of which have closed.
Eddie Punch, the general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), welcomed the news.
He says: “It gives us space for meaningful talks.
“The meat industry has to realise that business, as usual, is not working – and ICSA will be insisting that they come to the table with concrete proposals to address the grievances of our members, and all the other farmers who have stood outside factory gates for the last two weeks”.
