ICSA Roscommon chairman Ger Grehan has urged all farmers affected by land eligibility issues to attend a public meeting in Athlone on 10 April, at which MEPs, TDS and local councillors will be present.

"Farmers all over the country have been affected by LPIS penalties, up to 100% of their single payment in some cases, and there are huge concerns about how the Department is dealing with this," said Grehan. "We are providing a forum for all farmers to raise these concerns and to share experiences with the public representatives present, and a large turnout of affected farmers would really serve to drive home the anger felt by so many."

ICSA West Cork chairman, Dermot Kelleher, will be in attendance at the meeting to outline the proposed legal challenge against the unfairness of these penalties by a group of farmers in West Cork.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said last month that the government was opposing a European Commission proposal to cut payments to Irish farmers by €180m because of weaknesses in the land parcel identification system and would negotiate a smaller fine.

On Thursday, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture Éamon Ó Cuív linked the threat of LPIS penalties to Ireland's expected €75m superlevy. "Many farmers are facing into substantial EU penalties. The Government must be forced to explain its failure to protect these farmers," Ó Cuív said.

The ICSA meeting will also discuss the proposed Dublin/Galway Greenway and its consequences for farmers along the development's route. The event takes place at 8.30pm on Friday, April 10 at the Athlone Springs Hotel.