All of the attention over the past seven weeks has focused on those standing at the gates of the meat factories.

But it is now time that the voice of farmers with animals to slaughter takes centre stage.

Severe financial pressure

These farmers are coming under severe financial pressure, with many having sold no cattle or sheep since protests began – often in solidarity with those on the gates.

The losses now being incurred on these farms are crippling as cattle go out of spec and lambs go over fat and overweight.

These farmers will go out of business and permanent damage will be done to the sector

It is time for leaders to stand up and ensure the voice of these farmers are now heard.

If protests are not brought to an end, these farmers will go out of business and permanent damage will be done to the sector.

Propaganda

It is easy to dismiss factory warnings of damage to market contracts as propaganda.

However, it would be naive to think that their customers are simply sitting on their hands waiting for Irish beef coming back on to the market.

Of course they are not.

Instead, they are busy working to develop other beef supply chains outside of Ireland - supply chains that they are unlikely to ditch when Irish beef comes back on stream.

Agreement

With the agreement due to be debated by various groups over the coming hours, it is likely we will see some people calling for the lockdown of the sector to continue.

It is down to each person now to, firstly, assess the credibility of those calling for such action and, secondly, determine how much skin in the games those people have in terms of having animals to sell and/or depending on the future of the sector for their livelihoods.

Then each person needs to assess whether the claims of those advocating further lockdown are credible and if their goals are achievable.

Of course, it can be argued that at a current base price of €3.50/kg beef farmers are going out of business.

But surely this is a decision that farmers with animals to sell should be allowed make for themselves and not by others who have decided to shut the industry down.