With infection rates among Wicklow deer between 15 and 23% in recent culls, TB was an issue. Fine Gael candidate Andrew Doyle, who came armed with the latest issue of the Irish Farmers Journal, said that while progress has been made, "west Wicklow is now at the same point east Wicklow was a year ago". According to Doyle, the Fine Gael election manifesto to be released on Sunday will "include specific reference to TB blackspots".

Fianna Fáil candidate and owner of Glendalough Hotel Pat Casey believes that the story of agriculture and its links to tourism is only in its infancy in this country. His colleague Jennifer Cuffe, from Greystones, is not from a farming background but said she was "committed to listening and learning". She admitted, however, that when canvassing door to door she found the Fianna Fáil's manifesto did not address issues faced by farmers in the east - including TB. She said she had discussed this with her party's agriculture spokesman Éamon Ó Cuív. A member of the audience reacted by saying that she should "not listen to Ó Cuív on agriculture".

The rest of the forum was dominated by the theme of fair prices for farmers. The party representatives promised various solutions to the Slaney Foods deal with ABP and commended Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney for acting on the matter. However, Renua candidate Billy Timmons said that it was "a low hanging chestnut" and he was not sure what Minister Coveney can realistically do about it.

Independent Joe Behan encouraged voters to elect someone who does not have to answer to a party while Sinn Féin's John Brady said that the main concern for him and his party is TTIP.

Fine Gael's Simon Harris and Avril Cronin as well as the Greens' Steven Matthews sent their apologies ahead of the meeting.