A RETURN to the dark days of emigration from rural Ireland in the 1980s arising from Budget cuts was predicted by the Irish Farmers’ Association president, Padraig Walshe, when he addressed a gathering of up to 1,000 farmers in Claremorris, Co Mayo, last night.
The rally was the first in a series of nationwide protest meetings planned by the association in the coming weeks.
Farmers vented their anger throughout the meeting over the way the agricultural sector was treated in the Budget. Mr Walshe reiterated his statistic that 60,000 low-income farmers would suffer a 60 per cent drop in incomes.
He said the disadvantaged areas scheme had always been the bedrock of Fianna Fáil commitment to low-income farmers, particularly those along the western seaboard.
“If Fianna Fáil desert those people at this stage, we will return to the dark days of emigration with rural parishes decimated,” he claimed.
“Farmers are very angry and frustrated that they are being expected to shoulder a disproportionate share of the cuts in this year’s Budget.”
Referring to the suspension of both installation aid for young farmers and the early retirement scheme, Mr Walshe said this was a blow to young people intending to enter farming, particularly in the west.
“For a relatively small investment, the installation aid for young farmers and the early retirement scheme are strong signals for the growth and modernisation of Irish agriculture.
He reminded local Fianna Fáil politicians they were “facing a date with the ballot box” in June.
Asked about the possibility of farmers protesting outside the Dáil as students and older people had done, Mr Walshe said all that was planned for the moment was the series of nationwide meetings but the IFA would be “reassessing our campaign” as it goes along.