The leader of the second largest farming organisation in the State, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), Mr Pat O'Rourke, yesterday questioned the independence of bodies reporting on farm incomes.
Calling for an independent commission on farm incomes, Mr O'Rourke said too much energy was being expended on attempting to ascertain farm incomes by vested interest groups.
The independence of Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, was damaged because it was a Government agency, he claimed.
"What we need is an independent commission which would examine the issue and clearly define the levels of income. The outcome should be binding on both the farm organisations and the Department," he said.
"But I see its most important role as putting in place a plan to ensure a viable level of income for farm families, a plan at both national and EU level," he said.
He said this was a key demand of the ICMSA which yesterday continued its picket outside Government Buildings in Dublin demanding a better income for farm families. Mr O'Rourke declined to outline or name the people he would like to see on the commission but he said this could be negotiated.
Mr O'Rourke said the ICMSA protest would continue until 4 p.m. tomorrow when ICMSA would join the social partnership talks.
"We received an invitation to take part from Mr Dermot McCarthy, secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach, who came out to us on the picket line to extend the invitation," he said.