Russia is Ireland's most important beef export market outside the European Union, and the Russian threat was raised by the Taoiseach at last week's EU summit in Brussels.
The Russians had threatened the ban amidst concerns over animal health and veterinary standards in the Bulgarian and Romania meat industries. Bulgaria and Romania become EU member states on 1 January.
Poland is involved in a separate food safety dispute with Russia, and this has not yet been resolved.
Under a deal agreed by EU Health Commissioner Marko Kyprianou and Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev, only food from certain regions of Bulgaria and Romania that meets full EU standards will be eligible for export to Russia.
Last week, Russian diplomats in Brussels tried to persuade Ireland and five other beef exporting countries to break with the EU and negotiate bilateral deals to allow their beef exports to continue, but this attempt was rebuffed, with the Taoiseach stressing that external trade issues had to be handled by the European Commission.
Tonight Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward, who first raised the issue, said political engagement at the highest level was needed to solve the issue, which was why EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso and the Taoiseach were involved.
He said he hoped the improved atmosphere would help in finding a resolution to the Polish dispute.
In retaliation for a ban on its meat exports to Russia, Poland has blocked the EU signing a new partnership and co-operation agreement with Russia.
EU diplomats say the partnership agreement with Russia encourages democracy and rule of law in the former Communist state. The beef dispute is one of a series of issues that have soured relations between Russia and Europe in recent months.
