Farmers protest at Meath County Council headquarters

Up to 60 farmers held a protest outside Meath County Council's headquarters at Buvinda House in Navan earlier today expressing their frustration at the administrative burden being placed on farmers.

The protest was organised to coincide with the March meeting of Meath County Council and several councillors from across the county, including Cathaoirleach Tommy Reilly, spoke to the farmers in advance of their meeting.

Meath IFA chairperson Dermot Ward explained that the protest was due to farmers' frustration over the "administrative burden and over-regulation" being placed on them with so many forms, rules and regulations that they must adhere to.

"The CAP in the past was supporting food production and now we have to change over to more environmental schemes. Really we are looking for a transition period to change systems. It is very difficult to be set up in one production area and then suddenly change overnight.

"It is just not possible immediately to change. We are asking for a transition period and asking the councillors on our behalf to contact their party colleagues in Dublin and the relevant departments to ask them to give us a a window to change over."

A row of tractors was parked in front of the Buvinda House and dozens more farmers came in jeeps to take part in the protest. Mr Ward said it was a good turn out given that is a very busy time on farms at the moment with cows calving, sheep lambing and said it is also a very busy period on dairy farmers.

Mr Ward thanked Cathaoirleach Tommy Reilly and all the councillors who came out to meet with them and also Deputy Peadar Tóibín. He also thanked Meath County Council's staff for their co-operation.

Meath IFA distributed a hand out to councillor outlining their issues.

They also used the opportunity to highlight the importance of agricultural to employment and the economy in the county.

"Almost 10,000 people are directly employed by agriculture and there are almost 4,500 individual family farms in the county. Economically it still has a huge direct employment effect, with more employed in production off farm," said Mr Ward.