Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the ongoing low price farmers are being paid for their cattle "can't be fair".
Speaking in Limerick, Mr Varadkar said the fact that beef prices here are now lower than the EU and UK average needs to be addressed.
Referring directly to the price farmers are paid, the Taosieach said: "It is only reasonable that the factory gate prices go up in the weeks ahead".
Mr Varadkar was speaking at the annual general meeting of the ICMSA.
He also addressed environmental issues, saying that the "climate shaming of farmers should stop and stop now".
He said he wanted farmers to be part of the solution "rather than being targeted as part of the problem".
The new Common Agricultural Policy "needs to be greener", he said, adding that it could do that by "incentivising, encouraging and remunerating farmers and industry to reduce emissions, produce green energy and promote biodiversity".
He said there would also be a dedicated EU budget around climate change and climate action, and he said some of that should go to farmers and agriculture.
Mr Varadkar said some of that should go to farmers and the agri-sector.
