Speaking at the protest, IFA deputy president Tim O'Leary accused Minister Coveney of "footdragging" on the Charter.

He said that farmers were promised a new Charter to coincide with the implementation of the new CAP, which commenced on 1 January 2015.

“Farmers are extremely frustrated with the lack of progress from Minister Coveney in finalising a new Charter of Farmers’ Rights," he said. "It’s time the Minister delivered fair play for all farm families.”

The IFA is demanding that the new Charter incorporates fair notice of inspection, the elimination of duplication, a reduction in overall inspections as well as increased tolerances and a new yellow card system for unintentional non-compliances.

O'Leary said farmers are becoming increasingly frustrated at the "burden of bureaucracy, unannounced inspections, land eligibility and other penalties being imposed by an inflexible and unfair EU regime".

He also said the failure of the minister to act has allowed negotiations on the new Charter to get bogged down on inspections, with no movement by the Department.

He said, “Minister Coveney has to intervene in this logjam, resolve the key outstanding issues, and insist that a new, improved Charter is implemented without further delay”.