Anger over the rising cost of fuel and of living was voiced at a public meeting in Moate, Co. Westmeath, on the evening of Sunday 27 September, organised by a group that took part in Ireland's fuel protests earlier this year, Agriland reports.

Billed as a national fuel and cost-of-living crisis meeting, it drew farmers, business owners, hauliers, agricultural contractors and people from rural communities, along with politicians from across the spectrum. Speakers described the financial pressure of fuel costs on their livelihoods and businesses; former Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) president Sean McNamara and Eamon Corley of the Beef Plan Movement both spoke.

The organisers, James Geoghegan, John Dallon and Christopher Duffy, said they would take proposals to government based on what they heard, with the message that "people have had enough", and warned that people would be out on "the roads" if fuel prices did not fall. Their earlier demands include extending or increasing the current excise-duty cuts, removing or reducing carbon tax on fuel, extending fuel rebates to sectors now excluded, and particular help for hauliers, farmers, agricultural contractors and other fuel-dependent businesses.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris told the Dáil last week that the fuel support scheme for farmers would be extended, saying the three issues raised at the National Ploughing Championships were "fuel, fodder and fertiliser" and pledging support on fodder and fertiliser as well.

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said green diesel prices were elevated and hard on farmers, and that he was working on a second tranche of payments for the agri-sector in the budget negotiations.

The Fuel Income Support Scheme was introduced as targeted income support for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. By 21 August the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine had paid €25.21 million under it to 30,604 farmers and contractors.

Photo: Icomparioimages / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Source: Agriland