Over 200 members of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association protested in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, over the continued delay of GLAS payments.

The protest took place outside Davitt House at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine offices this afternoon.

Members of the INHFA from across the country gathered outside the offices demanding that the Minister and Department take action now on payments, with over 9,000 farmers still awaiting payments.

The INHFA believes that it’s unacceptable that farmers should be penalised for the Departments inability to sort out its own internal inefficiencies.

The delay in GLAS payments has reached a stage where outside help may be needed to resolve the issues, Vincent Roddy National Chair of the INHFA said.

If necessary, experts in IT systems must be outsourced to sort out this mess, farmers cannot wait any longer for their wages, what other sector in Irish society would put up with this.

“We intend to keep our promise and are staging a number of protests to highlight this matter starting here today in Castlebar,” he said.

A country with the supposed best IT capabilities in the world should be able to sort out such an issue, he added.

At today’s protest a letter was handed into a Department official from the INHFA, while another letter will also be handed in the Taoiseach’s constituency office.

IFA Protests over the delay in GLAS payments

Meanwhile, IFA President Joe Healy led a protest on behalf of farmers awaiting overdue GLAS payments at the Department of Agriculture building in Dublin today.

Farmers have upheld their side of the bargain, complying with the scheme and carrying out actions, at significant cost and effort.

“The Minister and Department of Agriculture need to show the same level of commitment and ensure that payments are made immediately.

“We have seen a situation where 30% of the farmers that signed up to this scheme have not been paid, that’s not acceptable,” he said.