Four meat plants in the midlands have suspended operations following a significant COVID-19 outbreak.

Over 300 workers from these plants have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks, prompting the Government to introduce restrictions in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.

Representatives from SIPTU and Meat Industry Ireland have now agreed that new protocols will be put in place for the testing of meat workers.

But should meat plants be shut down?

We spoke to Hannah Quinn Mulligan, journalist with the Irish Farmers Journal, Edel McGinley, director of the Migrant Rights Centre, and Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture, about this.