Farmers protest over freeze on payments

MEMBERS of the Irish Farmers’ Association protested in Limerick and Dublin over the weekend on two separate issues, a freeze on Rural Environment Protection Scheme payments and low-cost selling by supermarkets.

A rally at the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Raheen, Limerick, yesterday was in solidarity with a sit-in protest by Donal O’Brien, a farmer from Castletown, Pallaskenry, over the non-issue of REPS payments.

IFA president Pádraig Walshe said the protest was not surprising in view of the anger among farmers whose REPS payments are being held up until the end of the year.