The IFA protest is, therefore, suspended to allow talks to talk place and the remaining protesters have just left the Department of Agriculture's headquarters on Kildare St having spent six nights there.

It is understood that a meeting between the Minister and the IFA will take place tomorrow.

In a statement, IFA President Joe Healy acknowledged the commitment from the Minister but admitted farmers need the maximum support.

"We acknowledge that the Minister has secured a commitment from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for a crop loss scheme. However, the Minister and his officials must ensure that the scheme is credible and provides the maximum possible support to those who need it most," he said.

Why are they protesting?

Last Wednesday when it emerged that a cap of €5,000 a farmer was being imposed as one of the conditions of the tillage crisis fund IFA occupied the Agricultural house in protest.

It was expected and understood that the cap would be €15,000, which is the maximum that can be applied under the state aid (deminimis rules) under EU law.

This became the sticking point as farmers refused to leave the building unless the discussion potentially included a revision of this cap.

The IFA has previously repeated that they would not enter into negotiations with the Department until they removed the precondition of the €5,000 cap on the crisis fund.

Only a small proportion of farmers are likely to qualify for more than €5,000 assistance but having negotiated for month in good faith on the expectation of the higher payment cap the grain committee that direct action was required in protest at the departments proposed terms and conditions.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed that a compromise was reached where Minister Creed agreed to meet the lobby group with no preconditions in the content of the talks, but the IFA would have to cease their protest.

"The only way that we can progress these matters is by sitting down around the table and I've issued that invitation to them," Minister Creed told the Irish Farmers Journal. "The protest and the occupation of the Department - that must end as a prerequisite to discussions," he added

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Full coverage: tillage crisis fund