'Bringing in the army is not the way to go' says Leitrim IFA Regional Executive
Protestors to join IFA delegation in the Dáil today
Leitrim Regional Executive Sean McKeon has told the Leitrim Observer, as the fuel crisis deepens and subsequent protests enter day four, that the "IFA have invited some of the protestors into the Dáil today as part of their delegation."
It comes after the IFA along with the Farm and Forestry Contractors of Ireland (FCI) recently met with the Tánaiste and other government figures.
Among their proposals, IFA called for a further price reduction in farm diesel as well as the Carbon Tax as well as the introduction of a Temporary Farm Fuels Support Scheme (TFFSS) to provide support payment refunding to farmers and farm contractors.
They also want immediate suspension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on fertiliser as well as expansion of the farm diesel carbon tax relief to enable Agricultural Contractors to qualify."
Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Mr McKeon said: "Our proposals are very clear and don't change. We met with the government previously and this is our follow-up meeting."
Mr McKeown added: "A lot of our members are on the streets as well; just because they are IFA members does not mean they haven't protested. This effects everybody; it effects farmers as well as an undertaker or shopkeeper and everyone is effected by it. We want to see dialogue but ultimately we want to see the price reduced as well."
Two-and-a-half weeks ago, the government signed off on a €250m package of measures to reduce fuel costs, including a temporary excise duty reduction for motor fuels, expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance. Mr McKeown continued: "From the agriculture sector point of view, green diesel as gone up 70 cent a litre. The big factor in green diesel is Carbon Tax and that's about to go up again."
Mr McKeon said that, Francie Gorman, President of the Irish Farmers' Association, wanted to "extend the hand to the protestors. The government were not going to meet with the protestors; there is a stand-off between the government and protestors so our leader Mr Gorman, extended the hand to bring them in as part of our delegation. We're all looking for the same thing."
He added that he felt that "bringing in the army is not the way to go."