Protests continue as farmers demand meeting with Minister Creed

The south-side of Dublin city centre has been brought to a stand still as protesting farmers parked tractors close to Dáil Éireann.
Angry farmers have this evening said they will not end their protest until they secure a meeting with Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.
They are angry at the crisis in the beef sector with many saying they are losing thousands of Euro on their herd and are demanding action from the Government.
Some fraught exchanges were witnessed between protesters and politicians at the top of Kildare Street by the Shelbourne Hotel, but generally the mood was friendly.
An earlier agreement between protest leaders and gardaí to allow up to 100 tractors drive down past the Dáil on the proviso they not stop collapsed, amid angry scenes.
Opposition politicians Mattie McGrath, Michael Fitzmaurice and Michael Collins sought to secure a meeting with Mr Creed in a bid to end the protest but their efforts came to nothing.
The protest had commenced at Merrion Square but without agreement the farmers in their tractors moved in a convoy towards Kildare Street until the point where they were blocked by gardaí.
The protests remain ongoing.
Gardaí say the protest is still going and is expected to remain throughout the night.
Kevin Street, Cuffe Street, Kildare Street, Merrion Square South, Dawson Street, and Merrion Row all remain closed and diversions are in place.