Ahern seeks farmers’ participation

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the Dáil his officials are in informal contact with the farming organisations regarding their participation in social partnership.

He said it was the Government's desire that farmers should continue in the process, after last year’s difficulties as production costs increased. It was also a bad year for prices, and there was a prolonged period of bad weather, he said.

However, the overall figure for State assistance to the agricultural sector was €2.8bn, of which €1.7bn constituted direct payments.