FARMERS FROM ACROSS Ireland packed up their dogs, tractors and sandwiches today and made their way to the capital to protest against proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy.
The demonstration took place outside Dublin Castle where the Minster for Agriculture Simon Coveney was holding an informal meeting of EU Ministers for Agriculture.
The Irish Farmers Association says the introduction of a minimum payment per hectare will take money from the most productive farmers – and reward those who produce less.
Suckler farmer Micheal Collins from Boher Na Breena in Tallght taking a break today at today’s protest.
Goat farmer Ed Harper and Vanessa O’Sullivan from Cape Clear Island in West Cork at the protest today.
The farmers are given sandwiches and bottles of water – protesting is hungry work.
The IFA believe around 5,000 people turned up for the rally to tell Minister Coveney – “No CAP cuts!”
Beef farmers Joe Brady and Charlie Creekin from Cavan with the IFA President John Bryan at the famers protest outside Dublin Castle.
Meanwhile…
Inside Dublin Castle an informal meeting of Ministers for Agriculture was being held. Chair and Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Simon Coveney is pictured centre with EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacion Ciolos.
Before the meeting today, Coveney acknowledged how tough it has been for farmers of late.
“It has been a really bad year for Irish farmers,” he told reporters ahead of the meeting citing “extraordinary weather patterns”, the horsemeat scandal and the fodder crisis.
Delegate Tom Moran, President of COPA – COJECA EU Commissioner Dacion Ciolos, Minister Coveney ahead of the meeting.
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