Irish farmer protests: ‘We’re in solidarity with our EU counterparts’
A convoy of farmers travels into Galway as part of today's nationwide protest. Picture: Ray Ryan
Hundreds of farmers protested in counties across Ireland last night to show “solidarity with their EU counterparts”.
In recent days, farmers have brought their tractors to cities across Europe, blocking major roadways in protest at a range of issues including rising costs, increased regulations, and cheaper food imports.
The agricultural community in Ireland feels it is being “overregulated”, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), with common “issues” shared with farmers who are protesting in Germany, France, Belgium, and other EU member states.
Farmers said they are “feeling the pain” as they protested outside a conference attended by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue on Thursday night.
By 9pm around 50 people had congregated outside the Athlone Springs Hotel with a number of tractors situated on either side of the entrance.
This comes as farmers take part in major protests across the EU, with the Irish agricultural community showing “solidarity” with protests in every county that were led by the IFA on Thursday also.
IFA president Francie Gorman said that Irish farmers are “just as frustrated by what is happening as farmers in other countries”.
According to Mr Gorman, farmers feel they are “being regulated out of business by Brussels bureaucrats and Department of Agriculture officials” who he describes as being “far removed from the reality of day-to-day farming”.
Farmers feel “enough is enough”, said Mr Gorman.
James Geoghegan from Co Westmeath who attended a protest said farmers feel “we have a minister who clearly doesn’t care about farmers, so many farmers haven’t got their payments yet, with stupid excuses”.
There were farmers who "got no money for Christmas", Mr Geoghegan said.
“Farmers signed up to contracts last year for the ACRES scheme due to be paid last November, and the money hasn’t come through yet.
“How do you expect people to make a living or stay producing food when they’re not being paid?”
Mr Geoghegan said that the issues are turning the younger generations away from farming as they are opting for careers with a guaranteed salary.
“I have farmers who can’t pay me for last year’s silage yet, dairy and beef farmers.
He said that Government has to act because the farming industry will “completely collapse” otherwise.
Hundreds of farmers took part in protests in Munster, including in Co Cork, and according to IFA Munster regional chairman Conor O’Leary, this followed “last year’s frustration and angst” over a number of issues including the nitrates derogation cut in Ireland, and that is “after boiling over”.
He said farmers feel it is “just becoming too difficult” to farm, and that nobody in the sector “is able to make a plan” for their futures due to regulation.
IFA Connacht regional chairman Brendan Golden said that farmers are being “overregulated”, yet the EU is “pushing” trade deals such as Mercosur that are “really flying in the face of what they’re asking us to do here at home”.
Some of the key issues for farmers across the continent revolve around the EU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, and CAP money “moving away” from supporting food production and funding environmental action instead.
Irish farmers are particularly stressed about “overcomplicated” farm schemes and “late payments” being made under these, along with nature restoration and the nitrates derogation.
Among those protesting today in Luxembourg Square, Brussels, were members of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) who called for “dignified living and working conditions”.
Macra president Elaine Houlihan said that farmers’ frustrations are “being ignored”, while food production is in “crisis”.
“With 6.5% of farmers in the EU below the age of 35, there is little hope for the future of an industry that will age into obsolescence,” Ms Houlihan said.
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