Young farmers call for Dublin protest march over budget cuts

YOUNG farmers are leading growing demands for a big protest in Dublin over the suspension of the installation aid and early retirement schemes in the budget.

Speaker after speaker called at a Macra na Feirme national rally in Tullamore, Co Offaly, for a march in the capital to highlight their anger over the cuts.

“The days of the gombeen farmers are over. We are going to stand up and be counted,” one delegate said.

Macra president Catherine Buckley announced that a petition calling for the full re-instatement of the suspended schemes can be downloaded from its website www.macra.ie

IFA deputy president Derek Deane told the meeting it is holding a series of regional meetings in protest over the cuts.

The IFA will decide on what course of action it will take when the process is completed, he said, assuring Macra “we will be marching together if there is a protest”.

Fine Gael agriculture spokesperson, Michael Creed, TD, told the meeting his party will move a private members’ motion in the Dáil next week. It will call for the reversal of cutbacks in the disadvantaged area scheme and the restoration of the young farmer installation aid and the early retirement scheme.

IFA president Padraig Walshe has meanwhile announced it is to step up its campaign against the budget cuts next week.

Mr Walshe said the IFA will be mounting an intensive lobby of all TDs during the Dáil debate on the cuts on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be calling on them to reverse the cuts that unfairly targeted farmers.