The all-party committee on agriculture is to hold a special meeting today to discuss the dispute between the Irish Farmers' Association and meat processors.
The committee chairman, Mr John Browne, last night said the Minister for Agriculture had been invited to meet the committee. Mr Browne said the committee would consider what way it could assist in resolving what was now "a delicate issue".
Meanwhile, the Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture, Mr Paul Connaughton, called on the Government to address "the issue of cartel cattle purchasing arrangements among beef processors through the competition Acts".
Mr Connaughton said the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, should become involved. "It is clear that the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, has neither the moral authority nor the political competence to deal with this escalating crisis. It is way past time for the Tanaiste to fully use the powers available to her under the 1991 Act to seek a High Court order for an investigation of anti-competitive practices within the industry."
The Labour Party Leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, called for an end to the blockade of meat plants while discussions on the resolution of differences between the IFA and the meat plant owners are taking place. He said the High Court order should be respected.
"A continuation of the blockade would endanger not only the livelihoods of the workers involved but also the livelihoods of farmers.
"Thousands of workers are being affected and the hardship they have endured must be a factor in any solution of this dispute," Mr Quinn said.