The IFA president, Mr John Dillon, warned today that farmers' patience with the Government in the ongoing dispute over agricultural incomes was now at "breaking point".
He said the farmers were angry and frustrated with the Government's position, but had been "measured and disciplined" until now.
He issued the warning as he set out a list of ten demands that he said would resolve the dispute if agreed by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh. These demands have been on the table for the past six months, he said.
Chief among the demands is that Mr Walsh publicly acknowledges the "crisis" in farm incomes and pledges to ensure a future for family farming in Ireland.
Mr Dillon also called for a raise in CAP product prices for milk, beef and grain and a concerted effort by the Government to re-open export markets.
A reversal of a number of elements of the recent Budget and an increase in the VAT refund to farmers were also called for.
Other demands include a proper agri-environmental package; increased Government effort in WTO and CAP reform negotiations; a structural reform package to aid full-time farming; a commitment to restore funding levels for agriculture outlined in the National Development Plan 2000 - 2006; and a reduction in the bureaucracy and red tape faced by farmers.
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