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ABP and Dawn Meats have been granted an injunction in the High Court to stop protesters from blockading their plants across the country.
ABP said they were left with "no choice but to seek an injunction to allow processing to resume."
"ABP are at a loss to understand why in the middle of a process set-up by the Minister, and agreed by all parties, we are now in this situation.
"The granting of the injunction clarifies that these protests were totally unwarranted and unlawful."
Dawn Meats
A statement from Dawn says the legal action is “regrettable” but necessary.
“Illegal actions by protesters at two plants resulted in the suspension of livestock processing and distribution to important customers of Irish beef,” Dawn Meats said.
“Farmers who want to sell their cattle are being denied the choice to market their livestock in an orderly manner, and customers of Irish beef are not having their orders fulfilled.”
Dawn Meats said it recognised the right of any citizen to protest peacefully but that it “cannot allow our staff, customers and suppliers upon whom our business depends, to be further damaged by these counter-productive blockades”.
Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats, told the Meat Business Women conference in Dublin on Tuesday: “The market is very soft at the moment and producers have got legitimate concerns. But perhaps breaking the law and blockading business premises is not the right way to achieve their aims.”
Meat Industry Ireland
The meat industry said that the blockades threaten jobs, markets and livelihoods.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has said that factories were left with no other option but to seek a legal injunction in the courts against protesters outside factories.
They say the action was taken in order to protect “businesses against damage being caused by illegal blockades”.
“Over the course of the last two weeks, MII has engaged in extensive negotiations with other stakeholders and arrived at a consensus on a range of issues that met a large part of the demands set out by the Beef Plan Movement,” MII stated.
“At the conclusion of this process, all parties supported the consensus but, unfortunately, the Beef Plan Movement withdrew from that agreement last weekend.”
Chinese deal
MII also referenced that the protests could put a potential deal with the Chinese in jeopardy, especially as a delegation from China was expected to inspect sites this week.
According to RTÉ, the court's orders in the case of Dawn Meats apply to premises at Grannagh, Co Waterford; Meadow Meats, Rathdowney, Co Laois; Hazel Hill, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo; Ardnageehy, Charleville, Co Cork; and Greenhills, Beauparc, Slane, Co Meath.
ABP was also granted an injunction by the High Court.
The ABP plants covered by the court's restraints are ABP premises at Bandon, Co Cork; Nenagh, Co Tipperary; Rathkeale, Co Limerick; Cahir, Co Tipperary; Clones, Co Monaghan; and Ferrybank, Co Waterford.
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