Farmers to hold protests in 28 towns on proposed CAP reforms

Farmers are to hold demonstrations today in 28 towns throughout the Republic in protest against proposed changes in the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

The protest, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association, is aimed at raising public awareness "of the threat to Irish agriculture and the entire rural economy in the Agenda 2000 negotiations" of which CAP reform is a part, according to the IFA president, Mr Tom Parlon. It comes in advance of next week's meeting of agriculture ministers in Brussels when CAP reform will be discussed. "A bad deal in these talks will cost massive losses in income and farm output and would threaten the viability of up to 50,000 full-time farmers," Mr Parlon said yesterday.

Mr Parlon added that the emphasis of today's action is centred on the "damage that the Commission's CAP reform proposals would do to the economy and employment in rural Ireland, and how the knock-on effects of the cuts would be felt in rural towns".

He said he could not overemphasise the importance of next week's discussions. The week starting February 22nd, he said, would have a greater impact on the livelihoods of Irish farm families than GATT or the Superlevy.

The IFA says the protests will involve farm machinery moving through each town from noon.

The venues for the protests are: Cavan, at Cavan Mart; Clare, at Ennis Mart; Cork, at Killarney Road, Mallow, Carrigrohane Road, Cork and Clonakilty show grounds; Carlow, at Leinster Marts (at 2.00 p.m.); Donegal, at Donegal Creameries, Letterkenny; Galway, at Cemetery Cross; Kerry, at Kingdom Mart, Tralee; Kildare, at Newbridge; Kilkenny, at Kilkenny Livestock Mart; Laois, at Portlaoise GAA grounds; Leitrim, at Carrick-on-Shannon GAA grounds; Limerick, at St John's Square; Longford, at Longford Swimming Pool; Louth, at Phillip Street, Dundalk; Mayo, at NCF Market Fare, Castlebar; Meath, at Tara Mines, Navan; Monaghan, at the swimming pool, Monaghan; Roscommon, at Roscommon Mart; Sligo, at St Anne's Car Park; Tipperary North Riding, at Nenagh Mart; Tipperary South Riding, at Clonmel; Waterford, at the GAA grounds, Dungarvan; Westmeath, at Mullingar Mart; Wexford, at Ferrybank; and Wicklow, at the Grand Hotel.

In Brussels next Monday, a 100-strong IFA contingent will take part in a European farmers' protest.