The beef farmers' protest which brought about the 24-hour closure of 50 per cent of the Irish meat processing capacity last Monday will continue this coming weekend with a two-day picket on the Kepak group of companies.
The Irish Farmers' Association protest began a fortnight ago with a 24-hour protest outside six AIBP plants which closed for the day last Monday week.
Last weekend saw an escalation of the dispute when the protests took place outside the AIBP and the Dawn company plants, which closed for the day.
While AIBP and Dawn plants will not be the focus of the farmers' attention next week, the protest at Kepak's three plants, Clonee in Meath, Watergrasshill in Cork and Athleague, Roscommon, will continue for two days.
The Kepak organisation was the first of the Irish meat factories to seek an injunction in the High Court in January 2000, when the Irish Farmers' Association mounted pickets on the State's meat plants which became blockades and led to the complete closedown of the industry.
The dispute has been taking place as the main killing season approaches with cattle which are ready for slaughter coming off grass.
