DAVID GRANT,
Madam, - When many thousands of farmers in many thousands of tractors trundle slowly and obstructively through the heart of Dublin in a few days' time, will they, I wonder, meet with the vigorous batoning and manhandling meted out to a small and very pedestrian demonstration earlier last year.now the subject of investigation. Somehow, I think it unlikely. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID GRANT,
Mount Pleasant,
Waterford.
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Madam, - If workers in any other industry in this country decided to take to the streets to protest at the refusal of people to purchase its output, they would be either laughed at, ignored or arrested for the disruption they caused.
This is exactly what is happening with the latest IFA protest. It is unfortunate that some farmers cannot survive in the current economic climate but the same can be said for many people in other industries. The difference, however, is that in other industries those struggling to survive would cut their losses, realise the futility of struggling against impossible odds, and switch their efforts to other areas.
Is there any possibility of Irish farmers taking such an obvious approach or are we all to be berated for not artificially supporting the industry beyond a sustainable level? - Yours, etc.,
FERGAL O'SULLIVAN,
Woodstown Village,
Dublin 16.