As Irish beef processing facilities reopen, calls have been made for the increased bonuses in the deal to be paid “with immediate effect”.

Speaking following last night’s announcement that the final beef protests have stood down, the president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Joe Healy, said: “Factories should come forward with a strong base price and pay the new bonuses.

“This agreement is not perfect, but I want to make it clear that it applies equally to all farmers regardless of their scale.”

Continuing, the IFA president acknowledged: “There are other aspects of the agreement that will take time to implement, but the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, should move on these immediately.”

Concluding, Healy said: “The chairman of the new beef market task force should be appointed immediately and the group should meet in the next two weeks. We need to keep up the momentum for change.”