IFA moves Budget campaign to Cavan

THE IRISH Farmers' Association will stage another regional meeting tonight in Cootehill, Co Cavan, as part of its strategy to…

THE IRISH Farmers' Association will stage another regional meeting tonight in Cootehill, Co Cavan, as part of its strategy to pressurise the Government to reverse Budget cuts.

The meeting will be in Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith's own Cavan/Monaghan constituency and all councillors and local representatives have been invited.

Mr Smith will not be there as he is in Brussels leading negotiations on Cap reform but indications are that all the local TDs, senators and councillors will attend.

IFA sources indicated that farmers are unlikely to stage a major rally at the Dáil at this stage as the pressure to reverse cutbacks is continuing at local level.

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Attendance at the first of the meetings in Co Mayo last week took even the IFA leadership by surprise.

A large turnout was expected but the association had not planned for the 1,200 farmers who turned out to vent their anger at the cuts in the Budget.

The strategy of continuing to pressurise Fianna Fáil councillors and backbenchers moves to Dunmanway, Co Cork, on Friday and to Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and Blarney on Monday night next.

A special meeting will take place in Portlaoise next Saturday on the suspension of the Early Retirement Scheme.

IFA president Pádraig Walshe said the campaign will expose what he described as the "Government's disproportionate treatment of the farming community".

Many farmers will be hit by a cut in payments to those in disadvantaged areas - nearly 80 per cent of Ireland's land is classified as disadvantaged.

Some 100,000 beef farmers also face a 50 per cent cut in suckler (beef) cow payments. The retirement scheme, under which farmers can retire at 55 and receive up to €15,000 a year for 10 years, is also being suspended.