Up to 400 Cavan farmers join Dublin rally

Damian McCarney Up to 400 farmers from across County Cavan joined the mass rally in Dublin yesterday in what the IFA insist was a fight for the future of family farming. The IFA estimates that a total of 20,000 joined the protest at Merrion Square and marched to Leinster House where the association's leaders addressed the crowd outlining that this was a critical moment for Irish farmers ahead of decisions to be taken in Europe on funding for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The IFA claims Tuesday's rally was the biggest in the capital in 15 years, and it included the unusual spectacle of 10 tractors a combine harvester and a number of milk lorries outside the Dail. Buses were organised to bring farmers from the IFA branches dotted around Cavan up to the protest on Tuesday morning. "We are fighting for the future of the farm family," said one of the local IFA organisers, Elizabeth Ormiston. "Everyone is very serious about this. "Last year the over all cut at the Department for Agriculture was six per cent yet farmers had to take an overall cuts in our REPs and Disadvantaged Areas payments of on average 17 per cent." Addressing thousands of farmers on Kildare St, IFA President John Bryan said the huge turnout sent a clear and determined message to the Government and the EU: a full CAP Budget must be secured that works for active farmers and provides a Rural Development package that supports vulnerable sectors and regions. "Farmers from every rural parish of Ireland have attended today's Day of Action to fight for the future of family farming, a sector that supports 300,000 jobs and €9bn in exports," John Bryan said. "The next two months will see decisions taken in Brussels and by our Government that will have a huge bearing on the ability of the sector to survive and grow. Farming can help deliver recovery and jobs, but only with the right policies and supports." The IFA President said the CAP Budget up to 2020 was under serious pressure and farmers expect the Government to hold the line in Europe and ensure that Ireland secures its current allocation of €1.6bn per year. Mr Bryan said the decision on future CAP funding will be made a meeting of the Heads of Government before Christmas, and the Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be expected to deliver a full CAP budget. On the domestic front, John Bryan said the Government cannot continue to heap extra cuts and costs on top of farm families. He said previous budget cuts to farm schemes have been totally disproportionate and have hit low-income farmers very hard. "Like all other working families, farmers have also had to find the money to pay significantly higher taxes and charges. Today farm families are saying 'enough is enough'." Mr Bryan challenged the Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton to move immediately on the Government commitment to regulate the retailers and restore equity in the food supply chain.