The Irish Meat Association appeared to be adopting a hard line with the Irish Farmers Association yesterday in the dispute over cattle prices on foot of a call by the Labour Party on the Minister for Agriculture to intervene in the dispute. The call for intervention came from Mr Jack Wall, Labour's spokesman on agriculture, who also accused Mr Walsh of dereliction of his duties in failing to prevent such disputes.
Mr Wall said the temporary ending of the third of the series of disputes gave an opportunity to Mr Walsh for intervention and the opening of discussions between the IFA and the IMA.
A spokesman for the Irish Meat Association said: "Cattle prices are a matter between the individual farmer and the individual meat plant. The Competitions Authority has a clear position on this." The president of the Irish Farmers Association, Mr John Dillon, said he saw merit in the call made by Mr Wall.