MINISTER FOR Agriculture Brendan Smith has confirmed his attendance later today at the Virginia Agricultural Show in Co Cavan where more than 30,000 people are expected to attend.
The absence of Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Mr Smith at the largest show in the country, Tullamore, on August 9th, had generated significant public interest and media comment.
Yesterday, officials at the Department of Agriculture confirmed Mr Smith will attend the show which is in his own constituency.
Angry farmers had struck the Minister’s car and lay down in front of it in west Cork, on his last public outing in July, when he opened an extension to a cheese factory.
That protest had been organised by the Irish Farmers’ Association and spun out of control due to an absence of effective stewarding. In a statement Mr Smith said he had again urged the European Commission to increase dairy intervention prices, and called for an increase in the scope and level of export refunds.
The Virginia event is a major attraction because of the staging of the Baileys Champion Dairy Cow competition where Ireland’s top dairy cows compete for the €8,000 title of the best producing cow on the island.
The Virginia show has the reputation of being in the top three agricultural shows in the country.