Early bird catches flak from farmers
Yates predicted the minister would receive plenty of flak from farmers trying to cope with a plethora of problems, including low prices and a wet summer. The minister accepted it was a difficult time for farmers and said he fully understands their concerns.
He outlined the actions he had taken at European Union and national levels to alleviate their plight and detailed the resources allocated to agriculture.
Mr Smith said he will be having a bilateral meeting in Paris today with his French counterpart to discuss a range of issues.
After cups of teas at the headquarters of the Irish Farmers Association and the National Ploughing Association, Mr Smith met with the media and had more tea.
Farmers had no inhibitions about telling the minister on his later walkabout that government scheme cuts, falling incomes and other issues are having a serious impact on their lives.
A dozen gardaí were close at hand as Mr Smith visited various stands but there was no apparent hostility, despite the farmers making their views firmly known.
“People are entitled to express their opinion and to protest within the law. We live in a democracy,” he said.
Mr Smith said he comes from a farming family in Co Cavan, represents a rural constituency and has ongoing dialogue with the farming organisations at leadership and sector levels.
“Well boys, are ye getting plenty of exercise,” quipped the minister, as reporters monitored his progress along the trackways, where he was approached here and there by farmers putting their points of view.
Among the stands he visited was the Avonmore Milk Bar, where he raised aloft the national hurling league trophy won by Kilkenny. He was also presented with a copy of Brian Cody’s book, written with sports journalist Martin Brehony, and published by Irish Sports Publishing.
Visitors hailed the celebrated Kilkenny hurling manager, whose book, Cody, will be officially launched next week, as a national role model for developing team spirit.
“The difference between winning and losing can be minute, and I hope in my book people can see what exactly has made the difference for the Kilkenny hurling team,” Cody said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was among the visitors in the afternoon, but he had to compete during a media scrum with public address announcements from various locations.
Enda met with Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore in the Irish Farmers Association stand, proving once again the ploughing championships are a magnet for politicians of all hues.
Today, it is Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s turn to follow the furrow in Athy on his return from another biggish gathering — the general assembly of the UN in New York.
