Protests to escalate across the EU

FARMER protests are set to escalate across Europe, after the only decision taken by agriculture ministers in Brussels, was to give a panel of experts nine months to report back on the dairy crisis.

Irish farmers are taking to the streets in force again, with 29 tractor protests across the country next Monday, recalling the 2003 protest led by IFA president, John Dillon, when 1,500 tractors converged on Dublin city centre.

Munster IFA vice-president Sean O’Leary said farmers face a winter of cash shortages while trying to provide for their families and keep their businesses afloat, and the “tractorcade” is part of IFA’s national campaign for equity and fairness.