I live in apartment near Christchurch. A short while ago, I heard a strange murmuring sound and looked out my window. There's a silent march going past; when I say silent, quiet would be a better word! I've seen a lot of marches and protests over the years but never one as quiet and dignified as this so I'd love to know what it's about. A lot of the placards seem to be from farmer's groups I think.
Farmer's protest march in Dublin
- Thread starter gnubbit
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Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
Aha! Thanks for the link - I feel like a typical townie who knows nothing about anything that happens beyond the Pale! There was really something quite moving about this. I've seen so many while living here and have become immune to them. This was something very different - "strong words softly spoken" comes to mind. I wish them well with their cause.
Aha! Thanks for the link - I feel like a typical townie who knows nothing about anything that happens beyond the Pale! There was really something quite moving about this. I've seen so many while living here and have become immune to them. This was something very different - "strong words softly spoken" comes to mind. I wish them well with their cause.
Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
I don't think that's how they'd see it. Any farmers I know work very hard for a relatively small return. As I sit here munching a yummy bacon buttie (Irish bacon, bread and butter) I'm thinking where would I be without them
I don't think that's how they'd see it. Any farmers I know work very hard for a relatively small return. As I sit here munching a yummy bacon buttie (Irish bacon, bread and butter) I'm thinking where would I be without them
Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
That's right...feckin farmers...the world would be better off without them...why can't they just go to Tesco like the rest of us!
That's right...feckin farmers...the world would be better off without them...why can't they just go to Tesco like the rest of us!
Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
Then why don't they quit farming and go into another profession/industry where rewards are more comensurate with their efforts?
Then why don't they quit farming and go into another profession/industry where rewards are more comensurate with their efforts?
Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
Because of the hardship and low income which they complain about?
Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
I previously said I knew farmers who worked hard for relatively little return but they have never complained to me about it; it's just an observation on my part.
Assuming that farmers do complain about it though, I feel they are justified. They are doing necessary work and conditions are hard and financial reward is small.
I don't think complaining means that they should have to change job. Now that I think about it, most people seem to complain about their work conditions to some degree and it is often constructive, leading to improvements For example I know nurses who complained loudly about their conditions and there were changes for the better (with plenty more room for improvement!). Pharmacists are complaining about how they are paid for the various schemes. If they (or the nurses or farmers or whoever) simply decided to swap jobs, I think we'd all be in a right pickle.
Another thing, the farmers I know would not be able to get another job because of factors like age, education, experience, family commitments and what's available where they live. So changing career isn't necessarily an option for everyone.
I'm not an expert - these are just my feelings on the subject.
I previously said I knew farmers who worked hard for relatively little return but they have never complained to me about it; it's just an observation on my part.
Assuming that farmers do complain about it though, I feel they are justified. They are doing necessary work and conditions are hard and financial reward is small.
I don't think complaining means that they should have to change job. Now that I think about it, most people seem to complain about their work conditions to some degree and it is often constructive, leading to improvements For example I know nurses who complained loudly about their conditions and there were changes for the better (with plenty more room for improvement!). Pharmacists are complaining about how they are paid for the various schemes. If they (or the nurses or farmers or whoever) simply decided to swap jobs, I think we'd all be in a right pickle.
Another thing, the farmers I know would not be able to get another job because of factors like age, education, experience, family commitments and what's available where they live. So changing career isn't necessarily an option for everyone.
I'm not an expert - these are just my feelings on the subject.
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Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
IMHO I think the key for farmers is to try and increase their income streams by other means and enterprises, there has been a large increase in farmers markets and organic produce along with other initiatives and enterprises which be run on the farm land..
IMHO I think the key for farmers is to try and increase their income streams by other means and enterprises, there has been a large increase in farmers markets and organic produce along with other initiatives and enterprises which be run on the farm land..
Jack The Lad
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Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
I'm just back from Dublin - I was there to attend the protest with my family, and fellow farmers. Thank you for your kind words gnubbit!
Actualy the protest was not only attended by farmers, but significantly it was also supported and attended by representatives of most of the industries who operate in the agricultural industry, for example Co-Operatives, Teagasc, the Meat Processing industry, Creamerys etc, and also members of the Ulster Farming Union. As far as I know this is the first time in history that the entire Irish agricultural industry has come together to protest with a single voice. If it was moving to see, believe me, it was twice as moving to be involved.
Without going too deeply into the myriad of details as to what the protest was all about... there's plenty of info in the national newspapers... the direction the WTO talks are taking at the moment, if ratified, will have devestating consequences for the entire European Agricultural Industry, and Ireland in particular - and, perhaps more importantly, for everyone who puts food into their mouths every day, and cares about the food they are eating and where it comes from. It's not just about subsidies, it's about food, and that means everyone, not just the farming community, needs to kick up a big fuss, and soon.
I'm just back from Dublin - I was there to attend the protest with my family, and fellow farmers. Thank you for your kind words gnubbit!
Actualy the protest was not only attended by farmers, but significantly it was also supported and attended by representatives of most of the industries who operate in the agricultural industry, for example Co-Operatives, Teagasc, the Meat Processing industry, Creamerys etc, and also members of the Ulster Farming Union. As far as I know this is the first time in history that the entire Irish agricultural industry has come together to protest with a single voice. If it was moving to see, believe me, it was twice as moving to be involved.
Without going too deeply into the myriad of details as to what the protest was all about... there's plenty of info in the national newspapers... the direction the WTO talks are taking at the moment, if ratified, will have devestating consequences for the entire European Agricultural Industry, and Ireland in particular - and, perhaps more importantly, for everyone who puts food into their mouths every day, and cares about the food they are eating and where it comes from. It's not just about subsidies, it's about food, and that means everyone, not just the farming community, needs to kick up a big fuss, and soon.
ubiquitous
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Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
At least half of Irish farmers have done exactly that in the past 15-20 years.
At least half of Irish farmers have done exactly that in the past 15-20 years.
Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
Have some of these farmers received Government payments/inducements to do this? I think older farmers get inducements to sign over the family farm to sons/daughters?
Have some of these farmers received Government payments/inducements to do this? I think older farmers get inducements to sign over the family farm to sons/daughters?
ubiquitous
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Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
There was an early retirement scheme to incentivise older farmers to transfer or lease their farms to others (not necessarily family members) but the take-up on this was minor as it was subject to strict conditions including iirc a requirement for the younger farmer to farm full-time. Only a small minority of farmers are now in this category.
The exodus of farmers from agriculture long preceded the early retirement scheme and has continued unabated since its cessation.
There was an early retirement scheme to incentivise older farmers to transfer or lease their farms to others (not necessarily family members) but the take-up on this was minor as it was subject to strict conditions including iirc a requirement for the younger farmer to farm full-time. Only a small minority of farmers are now in this category.
The exodus of farmers from agriculture long preceded the early retirement scheme and has continued unabated since its cessation.
Jack The Lad
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Re: What is the protest march in Dublin I've just seen?
The statistics commonly quoted relating to farmers leaving agriculture in the past 15-20 years would not include retiring farmers passing their farm to sons/daughters. For example, if 1,000 farmers retired and passed their farms on to 1,000 sons/daughters there would still be 1,000 farmers. The exodus is quite real and very visible throughout rural communities in Ireland.
The amount received through the retirement scheme depends on the size of the farm being transferred, but cannot amount to more than approx. €13,000 per anum. This is paid from 1 to 10 years depending on the age of the retiree. So the absolute maximum receivable is €13,000 p.a. for 10 years. The average received is far less. Not much of an income in fairness.
But to return to the original theme of this thread - the protest in Dublin yesterday was ultimately about food, and genuinely concerns everyone, not just farmers and the thousands working in the food industry. The outcome of the WTO talks in Geneva in May is not abstract, and will have profound and immediate implications for us all.
The statistics commonly quoted relating to farmers leaving agriculture in the past 15-20 years would not include retiring farmers passing their farm to sons/daughters. For example, if 1,000 farmers retired and passed their farms on to 1,000 sons/daughters there would still be 1,000 farmers. The exodus is quite real and very visible throughout rural communities in Ireland.
The amount received through the retirement scheme depends on the size of the farm being transferred, but cannot amount to more than approx. €13,000 per anum. This is paid from 1 to 10 years depending on the age of the retiree. So the absolute maximum receivable is €13,000 p.a. for 10 years. The average received is far less. Not much of an income in fairness.
But to return to the original theme of this thread - the protest in Dublin yesterday was ultimately about food, and genuinely concerns everyone, not just farmers and the thousands working in the food industry. The outcome of the WTO talks in Geneva in May is not abstract, and will have profound and immediate implications for us all.