Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman and his son Tom have departed the Irish Farm Centre in a John Deere tractor bound for a farmer protest in Brussels.

Gorman will drive to Rosslare this Monday, stopping off at a number of points along the way including Naas, Crookstown, Tullow and Enniscorthy.

The protest is focused on three main issues: the CAP budget, the Mercosur trade deal and excessive red tape in farming.

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Gorman said: “I want a farming future for Tom the same way thousands of other farm families all over Ireland and Europe want their farm to be viable for the next generation. Tom and I are travelling over to deliver that message to the EU institutions next Thursday.”

He said the initial CAP proposals would leave a significant gap in funding for the CAP programme post-2027.

“We will be standing with our colleagues from across Europe to deliver a strong and united message that an adequate budget is needed across the twin pillars,” he said.

Francie Gorman and his son Tom on their way to Brussels from Dublin. \ Philip Doyle

Gorman will arrive in Dunkirk on Tuesday night and will travel from there to Brussels on Wednesday to join up with thousands of farmers from across Europe for the major demonstration, which will coincide with EU Council meeting.

Damage

Munster IFA chair Conor O’Leary told the Irish Farmers Journal that the IFA national council will be flying over on Thursday morning to the protest.

“We’ll be protesting on Thursday morning, largely over the Mercosur trade agreement and the damage that will likely do to both Irish farming and what we also consider to the health of the European citizen as well.”

IFA members at the Irish Farm Centre on Monday. \ Philip Doyle

He said the funding of the next CAP is also a big concern.

Wicklow IFA chair Selena McKenzie said that the protest is aimed at stopping an increased amount of South American beef coming into Ireland with different standards.

“The standards coming in from South America are the standards that Irish farmers are under scrutiny for, year in, year out. Our animals are traced from birth to death, this does not happen in Brazil,” she said.