The Agriculture Minister has confirmed that he will facilitate new talks aimed at resolving the ongoing beef dispute.

Michael Creed said that the talks will be held on Monday.

It comes after weeks of demonstrations outside meat processing sites across the country.

In a statement, Minister Creed said: “There has been significant engagement with stakeholders throughout the duration of this dispute and I believe that there is now a basis for the renewal of talks between the parties.

"We have reached a point where it is critically important for the future of the sector that stakeholders engage in a spirit of compromise to resolve a dispute that has the potential to inflict long term damage on the sector if it continues."

He added: "It is clear that this can only happen if processors and protesters step back from Court proceedings and illegal blockades, in order to allow space for meaningful talks to proceed.”

Protests have continued at a number of factories across the country this week, as a Chinese delegation inspects some of the plants.

The dispute centres on the prices farmers get for their animals, and there have been calls for retailers to be included in talks.

Yesterday, the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee met and "unanimously called for the round-table discussions, without precondition, to be reinstated as quickly as possible".

In a statement earlier this morning, the Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association said retailers and meat factory bosses must be included in talks.

ICSA beef chairman Edmund Graham suggested: “There is no point wasting time talking about peripheral issues if we do not address the need for a sustainable beef price."