The chief executive of Monaghan Poultry Products, Mr Barry McEntee, is to meet senior officials at the Department of Agriculture and Food today in an effort to regain his licence.
Mr McEntee admitted last night he faced a difficult task in restoring public confidence in his operation following yesterday's strong criticism of his plant by the Department.
However, he said that, if the Department restored the licence it would "speak volumes" to customers, suppliers and the 300-strong workforce who were given protective notice.
Yesterday the Department broke its silence over why the licence was revoked twice in the past week. It said floors at the plant were in poor condition and, in many cases, "uncleanable".
The conveyor equipment was rusty and operatives routinely handled raw meat, packaging and equipment, which should normally be undertaken as completely separate activities.
The statement accused the company of poor product-handling, including a failure to keep the temperature of carcasses below 4, as required by regulations, and poor plant sanitation. Surfaces, floors, walls and equipment were not clean.
Mr McEntee said last night the company was not trading and everything depended on today's meeting. "If we are successful in reaching a settlement with the Department that will allow us to reopen," he said.
He spent most of yesterday talking to local TDs, union representatives and employees. Later a SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Jim Mullary, said arrangements to extend production hours to meet safety standards had been agreed with the company.