Farmers are criticising the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's decision to intervene in the beef price row.

The Commission is warning both sides against straying into competition-sensitive areas - such as fixing prices or anti-competitive action – in talks today.

Earlier this week - members of the Irish Farmers Association staged 48-hour protests at 14 meat processing plants.

The CCPC says blockades of factories aimed at influencing prices - may constitute an infringement of competition law.

The IFA President Eddie Downey – who is attending talks in Co Kildare aimed at ending the dispute - says the intervention is unnecessary and the farmers retain the right to protest.

“People are entitled to protest, they are entitled to fight their case. I think the competition authority should be looking after the vulnerable people in any sector, and we are extremely vulnerable. We are at the hands of a couple of major organisations, major companies, and I think we reserve the right to protest on that basis,” Downey said.