Rallying cries from the Beef Plan Movement for its protest outside the Dáil piqued The Dealer’s interest this week.

Acting co-chair Hugh Doyle issued the first of a plethora of videos to WhatsApp and Facebook followers from the comfort of his conservatory.

Banging his fist on the table, Doyle said the protest was needed to protect farmers and rural Ireland. His fellow acting co-chair Eamon Corley could not join him, he said, because he was in France on holidays.

Lo and behold, within 24 hours there was a video from the aforementioned Corley, presumably from the holiday destination.

It was followed by a series of videos from various Beef Plan Movement county chairs, whose locations were less salubrious: tractor cabs and fields. One even brandished a hurley to reinforce his point.

Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice got in on the action too, making his pitch from beside a decent-looking Claas.