Taoiseach urges farmers to reconsider position

FARM leaders who hoped Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would rescue their stalled social partnership talks have suffered a setback.

Claiming the proposals on the table do not meet their demands, they had sought a positive response from Mr Ahern to ensure their continuation in the process. But the Taoiseach has strongly defended the Government’s proposals.

Speaking at a Fianna Fáil function at Maam Cross, Co Galway at the weekend, Mr Ahern said the offer made to the farm organisations is both generous and creative in the context of budgetary realities.