Discussions will take place in Dublin today between all parties interested in shipping live cattle from the State using a dedicated livestock vessel.
The talks, which will involve veterinary, farming and civil servants, will take place against the backdrop of the P&O ferry service between Rosslare and Cherbourg ending on December 19th.
This service has been the only direct method of bringing live animals to the Continent from the State, a trade which is worth more than €150 million annually.
Irish cattle, mainly young animals, go to markets in Spain, Italy, Holland and France. Last year, more than 200,000 animals were exported to mainland Europe.
The issue has caused major concern in the farm organisations following the leaking of the news of the discontinuance of the service by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association in September.
The Irish Farmers' Association's national livestock committee chairman, Mr John Bryan, called for Government intervention to guarantee farmers and exporters of live cattle the right to access markets in continental Europe.
He said that while the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Ms Coughlan, had made it clear she was committed to a strong and vibrant live export trade, "this important issue is rapidly approaching and it is essential the Government takes action at this stage on alternative arrangements which will guarantee continued ferry access to Irish farmers and exporters."
Mr Bryan said it was the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture and the Government to guarantee ferry access to the EU single market for Irish livestock farmers and live cattle exports.
He said that he was aware that some parties had expressed an interest in a new ferry facility from the Republic to Europe, which would carry livestock.
He said they were currently examining the options on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route and he had directed inquiries on the details regarding the ferry to the Department of Agriculture.
Difficulties have arisen in the past over the transport of cattle on ferries and for a time in the mid 1990s, British-based ferry operators were refusing to handle Irish exports because they were under pressure from animal welfare groups.
Government support for a dedicated livestock transport service fell foul of the EU's trade regulations on the basis that it opposes subsidised internal trade.