The mine was suspended last June after zinc prices hit a three-year low

SIPTU said it will be releasing more details on the detail after it has spoken to its members

Tara is Europe's largest zinc mine

Last month owners Boliden announced plans to suspend operations at the mine and temporarily lay off 650 workers

Production at the zinc and lead mine in Co Meath was said to have ceased late on Wednesday as a portion of the workforce protested the lack of progress, with Unite confirming that the unofficial action was taking place.

Management at Boliden Tara Mines said on Wednesday that they will press ahead with their plan to place the operation in “care and maintenance” in mid-July with the temporary loss of up to 800 jobs.

Last week, the company said over 600 staff members would be impacted by the decision to temporarily suspend production and exploration at the site in Navan, Co Meath

Mr Kane told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, that they had met with Minister Simon Coveney and had asked him to impress upon the company the need to engage with the trade union.

The company said the decision to temporarily close its Co Meath site had been taken in the face of ‘tremendous unsustainable losses’.

The mine will be placed under care and maintenance.