Despite "significant progress" in talks to find a resolution to the dispute by Department of Agriculture and Food clerical workers, a protest rally over the effects of the dispute will be held in Galway city this morning.
Over 1,000 farmers are expected to converge on the Galway District Veterinary offices to highlight their complaints that they have not been able to get documentation to move their cattle off their farms for the last 11 weeks.
The workers, who normally issue permits to allow cattle movements, were suspended when they refused to carry out certain duties in their dispute over lack of promotional opportunities in regional offices.
There are currently 250 members of the Civil and Public Service Union suspended and picketing offices in Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Kerry and Clonakilty, Co Cork.
A spokesman for the union said that moves to resolve the dispute were at "a delicate stage" but he conceded that progress had been made.
He said talks with the workers involved will take place today and tomorrow, where they will be briefed about the talks arranged by the National Implementation Body, which oversees the implementation of the Social Partnership Agreement.
A Department of Agriculture and Food spokesman said, "significant progress has been made in the past 24 hours and we are hopeful of a resolution to the dispute".
However, a spokesman for the Irish Farmers' Association said it would not be calling off its protest meeting today, despite the progress being reported.
"Farmers in the western counties are under severe pressure because of this dispute and some have had to hold cattle which were ready for the markets and this has cost them a lot of money," he said.
"There has also been a build-up of diseased animals on farms which is potentially dangerous", he added.