Sponsored by
Farmers create traffic chaos in Ireland with protest over falling prices and cuts
Motorists across Ireland faced major traffic delays yesterday as hundreds of angry farmers held tractor protests in 29 towns and cities.
The slow-moving motorcades clogged up roads to highlight concerns about falling farm prices and Government cuts.
The Irish Farmers' Association said families were facing the worst crisis in a generation.
President Padraig Walshe said: "Almost every town throughout rural Ireland is dependent on agriculture and the income collapse will lead to significant downturn in business across the rural economy. The Government must take immediate action to address this issue."
Mr Walshe said farm incomes were expected to fall this year by up to 25 per cent and 35 per cent over a two-year period.
He said the average farm income was below 15,000 euros (roughly 14,000) this year.
But a spokesman for Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith said the Government had been consistently working to ease their plight.
"Minister Brendan Smith... fully acknowledges the difficulties facing the farming community this year and said he has been consistently working both within Government and at EU level, to alleviate the current difficulties being faced by the sector," he said.
AA Roadwatch warned motorists in Waterford were facing 30 minute delays. Up to 250 tractors were travelling through parts of Kilkenny while 400 poured into Portlaoise.
Mr Walshe said agriculture was vital to the rural economy of all counties and was the largest indigenous industry in Ireland.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
