Fine Gael today made calls for the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Joe Walsh, to address the crisis in agriculture or "consider his position".
The Fine Gael spokesman on Agriculture, Mr Billy Timmins, called on Mr Walsh to act as a mediator in the dispute between farmers and the meat factories or "risk an escalation that would cost the economy €2 million per week.
"It is imperative that the minister brings both sides together, as a further escalation will prevent the weekly slaughter of approximately 40,000 cattle. This will have a devastating effect on the livelihoods of livestock farmers and on the economy," said Mr Timmins.
Fine Gael parliamentary chairman and deputy spokesman on Agriculture, Mr Tom Hayes, said: "This minister has shied away from asking the tough questions that need to be asked. It is vital that new blood be brought into the department to investigate where the profits are going".