Protests at meat factories around the country are continuing as farmers say prices being paid for beef are unsustainable.
Members of the Beef Plan Movement are into their seventh day protesting.
In Waterford, a number of farmers stopped trucks entering the ABP meat factory in Ferrybank this morning.
It's understood there are around 30 farmers there preventing trucks from gaining entry.
The Gardaí are on site as well.
Pat Kirwan is one of the farmers present and speaking to KCLR, he says it's all entirely peaceful:
“There are 4 trucks here and about 200 cattle trying to get entry into ABP in Ferrybank. The farmers are mounting a peaceful protest. We’re asking them not to pass.
“We’ve been here 24/7 since last Tuesday.”
The Minister for Agriculture is being accused of sitting back and watching from the side-lines as Ireland's beef farmers sink to their knees.
Fianna Fail's spokesperson on Agriculture says the Government can't expect farmers to continue carrying losses as beef prices continue to fall.
Charlie McConalogue says Minister Creed must roll up his sleeves and tackle the frustration that has led farmers to the picket lines all this week.
“It’s now time that Minister Creed actually got involved. It’s not acceptable that he sits on the sidelines watching as things get worse by the day.
“He needs to get involved and meet with the faming organizations and the meat processing sector and try and provide the leadership to show a way out of this. To show that the government understands the massive pressure the farming and beef sector is under and try find solutions to relieve the financial pressure on them at the moment.”
