Protesting farmers block Dublin city traffic with combine

A combine harvester blocked traffic for a time outside the Department of Agriculture in Dublin's Kildare Street on Monday as tillage farmers intensified their protest campaign for compensation.

The combine harvester was driven to the department from nearby St Stephen's Green and the farmers were addressed by Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Joe Healy who said the protest would continue until their demands were met.

He said farmers were unable to harvest their crops during the weather crisis of last year, with some barely salvaging one ton per acre when the norm would be three.

“It is a sector which has gone through an awful lot since the 2011/12 period,’’ he added.

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“One year after another has been very difficult, but no year more so than last year.’’

Four farmers have been engaged in sit-in protest in the department’s offices which entered its sixth day on Monday.

The IFA says in previous negotiations between it and the department the IFA had accepted a limit of €15,000 would have to be applied to a compensation scheme due to EU State Aid rules.

“However, the IFA was taken aback when a department spokesman confirmed there would be a €5,000 limit”, said Mr Healy.

Four members of the IFA Grain Committee have been protesting inside the Department of Agriculture offices since last Wednesday. The four farmers are: Liam Dunne from Kildare, James Hill from Wicklow, Peter Lynch from Donegal and Kieran McEvoy from Laois.

They have also been joined by Galway tillage farmer John Daly who said the protesters slept at night on inflatable mattresses in the foyer of the department. Food is provided from a stove in nearby Kildare Place.

“It is rough,” said Mr Daly. “It is no five-star hotel.” There was a discreet Garda presence for the protest and gardaí were given a round of applause when thanked for their co-operation by Mr Healy.