Both sides in the bitter cattle blockade dispute got down to serious negotiations shortly before 2 a.m. today when after 20 hours of talks the Irish Meat Association made a concrete offer to increase basic beef prices.
The IMA delegation was offering 87p per lb for O grade cattle, and 88p and 94p for higher grades, bringing the average price above 90p per lb, the target figures set by the farmers.
The farmers' delegation included the former Irish Farmers' Association president, Mr Tom Parlon, in his personal capacity. Sources close to the negotiations indicated a willingness on both sides to reach agreement later today.
The talks, at the Department of Agriculture in Dublin, were being chaired by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, who has been attempting to end the 10-day blockade of 40 meat plants in the Republic.
The blockade has been continued by farmers acting as private individuals. This is despite the apology by the IFA last Tuesday to the High Court and undertakings that it would instruct its members to obey an injunction forbidding the blockade.
The IFA also paid £500,000 in fines and the matter was adjourned until today.
Meanwhile, the Government has announced the appointment of an independent group to examine allegations of price-fixing in the beef industry, as well as the big gap between the price paid to farmers and that paid by consumers for beef.
According to a note circulated to Cabinet yesterday in Ballaghaderreen, the failure and past reluctance of the IFA to provide evidence to back up its allegation led to the establishment of the independent inquiry.
Last night, the IFA denied that it did not supply information on price-fixing to the Competition Authority.
Late yesterday evening farming sources indicated that the continuing threat of the High Court being used again against farmers was a hindrance to progress in the talks.
It is open to the IMA to name individuals whom it claims are breaching the court order. Mr Justice O'Donovan said last Tuesday he would deal very severely with such individuals by way of fining.
Before going into the talks, Mr Parlon said he understood that some firms had already offered farmers 90p a lb and the indicators were quite positive.
He welcomed the news from Ballaghaderreen of the Government inquiry into allegations of anti-competitive practices in the beef industry as "very positive".
The meat plants have been told by SIPTU, representing 3,000 out of 3,500 workers, that they have until 5 p.m. today to indicate whether they would pay workers laid off in the dispute.