Farmers taking part in Wednesday's meeting had concrete proposals on how to allocate payments to those who need it most after 2020.

Pat Joyce of the North East Galway Beef Producer said a €35,000 ceiling should apply to payments and they should be front-loaded. For example, a €200 suckler cow payment should be targeted to the first 20 cows.

Meanwhile, Galway IFA chair Anne Mitchell called for a minimum direct payment of €10,500 a year and for better support for active farmers. Under current rules, "the person who is working 90 hours a week is entitled to the same as the person who isn't working at all", she said.

On generational renewal, Westport IFA chair and dairy farmer John O'Malley asked for a gratuity "of €60,000 to €100,000" and a pension when handing over to a young trained farmer "for all the years of work".

Forestry protest

Members of the Save Leitrim campaign, opposing the development of forestry in their county, travelled to the meeting and staged a protest for the second time.

"The rural area where I live is dying on its feet, with three families in four townlands," said Adrian Kelly from Co Leitrim. He questioned the level of afforestation payments with Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle, who took part in the meeting.

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