PJ McMonagle Co Donegal

I’d be a bit worried from what I saw, if I’m being honest. To have a successful European Parliament, we need stability and I’d be worried that what has been elected will not provide what we needed. There is no harm in having a different voice from different sides but you need a centre that’s going to be able to control things and keep it all together.

We need a strong Europe and one that includes Britain. The majority of the food we produce goes to Britain so we have to ensure that the relationship to Europe, but more specifically Britain, is maintained.

James Murphy Co Kilkenny

The growth of the Eurosceptic vote is going to lead to a major shift in thinking in Brussels. This can be a good or bad thing for farming – we’ll have to see. What we can do is make sure that the likes of the IFA is at the forefront of decisions that will be affecting farmers.

What we have seen, though, is a real protest vote. People are unhappy with the current system and they need to be listened to also, but what we need most of all is unity and common sense in the things that matter.

The MEPs in Brussels need to be made aware that the decision they make has a direct knock-on effect to farmers in this country, whether that’s about CAP or inspections or whatever.

Tom Turley Co Galway

The new MEPs have to be told that they are going out to do a job for Ireland, to put on the green jersey and fight for our interests.

There is a strong anti-establishment vote now that has developed and, to be fair, it needs to be listened to. They have a voice also but it cannot stand in the way of productive farming. A strong opposition keeps the sitting party honest and makes sure they are held accountable but what we cannot afford to let happen is that this protest vote becomes too strong that it stops vital pieces of legislation from going through. Every voice should be listened to.

Tom Shortt Co Wicklow

The whole thing is very concerning, to be honest. People have come out in numbers and said that enough is enough. It’s going to lead to a radically different thinking that I fear will affect our industry.

We need the MEPs who have been elected to stand up for farming and not let those in Brussels make changes to a model that works. We saw that unnecessary changes were made to the current CAP. They tried to fix something that wasn’t broken at all. The Irish MEPs need to do what we put them there to do: protect the interests of the country and protect the interests of the farmers who put them there.

Jimmy Hosford Co Cork

It’s not positive, from the perspective of farmers. There is some concern that the MEPs who are about to head Brussels do not have the best interests of farming in their hearts. They’re all fine politicians but we need politicians who will fight tooth and nail for farmers and crucial farming issues.

We need a cohesive unit that will do all it can for farmers. The main thing I would be looking for is less bureaucracy in farming. Bureaucracy leads to greater problems for farmers; it’s the roadblock to efficient food production.