Fianna Fail claim tractor demos wasting vital garda resources

Chairman of the Oireachtas Justice Committee, Sean Ardagh, claims the escalating tractor demonstrations are now clearly tying up garda resources, which would otherwise be involved in road safety and other essential duties.

Fianna Fail deputy Ardagh also pointed out that if Friday's demonstration goes ahead businesses in Dublin City Centre fear that the protest could have a permanent damaging effect.

Ardagh said: "It is still not too late for the farmers to call off these unnecessary protests and accept the invitation from the Minister for Agriculture to enter into immediate talks about their grievances.

"By calling off the demonstrations now the farmers could still save the goodwill they built up in urban areas in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"Only this week we have seen the garda helicopter carrying out a rescue in the Wicklow Mountains. Clearly diverting the air support unit and other garda resources to monitoring demonstrations is a waste of life-saving resources."