All Carlow/Kilkenny TDs, along with numerous County Councillors were in attendance. IFA President Padraig Walshe chaired the meeting. In his opening address, he said: “The Government budget cuts had affected the most vulnerable farmer, including those in disadvantaged areas and the young and old, and to cap it all they slap a 1% income levy that discriminates ag-ainst all farmers. It hits depreciation and vital investment allowance,” he added.

Kilkenny County Chair-man John Bryan said: “The cuts in the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme are unfair and badly timed. The Scheme promised f80 a cow for five years. Now the Scheme is under severe pressure by potentially cutting the f80 in half. These cuts affect over 2,000 suckler farmers in Carlow/ Kilkenny, with an average cut of nearly f1,000 to the average suckler farmer.”

In response, Minister John McGuinness said that these were hard times indeed and that the country as a whole was under severe pressure and we all have to bear the burden of this. He did say he was willing to work with IFA on all the current issues, especially when dealing with a potential sheep package.

Carlow Deputy M.J. Nolan promised farmers that he would work hard on resolving the 1% income levy and was in favour of IFAs dem-and to get the 1% on gross profit rather than net profit.