Talks in the ongoing beef dispute have "successfully concluded", according to Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.

Minister Creed said stakeholders reached agreement "on a wide of very significant issues" early on Wednesday morning.

"Progress was made on important initiatives aimed at improving transparency along the supply chain, and improving communication between industry and farmers", he said.

Farmers had been protesting at processing plants over the low prices for their animals in weeks leading up to the talks.

However, the action was suspended earlier in August pending the outcome of the talks.

Meat industry groups also suspended legal proceedings they were planning to try to stop the demonstrations at processing plants around the country.

The agreement includes commitments on review of the grid, review of the in-spec criteria for the quality payment system bonus and the availability of carcass images.

There is also a commitment on an appeals system for carcass classification in manually grading factories and publication of an expert report on new technology in mechanical carcass classification.

Beef prices

However, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has said farmers will be disappointed that there is no increase on the main issue of beef prices.

IFA President Joe Healy said the fact that the talks took place on the precondition that price would not be discussed was "ignoring the elephant in the room".

Mr Healy said with Brexit just 71 days away, strong EU and Government support is urgently required for beef farmers.

He said the IFA "made it very clear to Minister Creed additional EU and Government Brexit supports and direct aid for farmers are urgently required."

On imports, Mr Healy said the IFA highlighted the damage to the EU beef market and prices from sub-standard beef imports from outside the EU.

He said it was agreed "it should be ensured that imports which do not meet the same stringent standards as EU producers are banned".

It was also agreed that Bord Bia will develop a beef market price index model, and that an independent grocery regulator is required.

On insurance charges at the factories, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) confirmed that farmers can opt out of paying.

Main image: Members of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) at a protest outside Cork City Hall in May 2019 | Image: Michelle Devane/PA Wire/PA Images