'We’re too quiet in this country' - Farmers fume over fuel at Ploughing Championships
Farmers from across the country attending the National Ploughing Championships hit out at the rising fuel costs
Over the past three days, farmers from all over the country have been travelling to Screggan, Co. Offaly to attend the National Ploughing Championships.
Following the fuel protests that took place earlier in the year, reporter John Gleeson spoke to farmers from across the country about the fuel prices, which are rising once again.
JP Murphy, a farmer and plasterer, from Belmullet, Co. Mayo, described the fuel prices as “crazy,” saying it’s “hard to keep everything going.”
“It’s ridiculous what they’re trying to do, there’s contractors out there trying to survive, I don’t know what’s going to happen if they keep going with the prices.”
JP added that he believes the government “have to do something about carbon tax, people won’t be able to travel or go to work.”
When asked if he would be in favour of more fuel protests, he said, “100%, I hope there’s more protesting again to bring down the fuel.”
“It’s gone mad,” said Mayo Abbey man Michael Fallon, who works in contracting, adding that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to pay for.
“The last diesel we bought was €1.54 a litre, it was €0.97 back in Feburary.”
Michael believes there is need for protests similar to what we seen earlier in the year, “I think there’ll have to be, they don’t seem to be doing anything about it, there taking more in now then if they didn’t put the carbon tax on at all that they suspended so...where is it going to stop.”
“They can’t keep taxing us out of existence,” Michael added, calling on the government to make cuts at the next budget in support of farmers and haulers.
He spoke about the hidden costs that farmers also experience, “no one talks about the price of a barrel of oil going up, what we have to buy to put into bailers and tractors, they’re all talking about the diesel but there’s hidden costs then as well.”
Pauric McGinley, a farmer from Granard, Co Longford, says the fuel prices are effecting him “very badly.”
“Obviously I’m a farmer, I have a jeep, two tractors, the price of a it has gone the roof and is rising by the hour... so I think we’re in serious trouble,” says Pauric.
However, it’s not only farmers Pauric is concerned about.
“I’m not a contractor but I don’t know how the contractors or the lorry men are going to survive.... I don’t know how they keep them on the road,” Pauric added.
“I was talking to the milkman the other day and he’s going to go back to 3 and 4 day collections because of the fuel crisis.”
Pauric believes another fuel protest is the “last thing you want to do, it’s no good to anybody,” he added.
“It was a necessary evil, but I’m not sure going for another one is a good idea, I think we’re bad enough without going down that road again.”
“As Winston Churchill said, Jaw jaw is better than war war,” says Pauric, “we need to keep talking.”
Pauric says he believes the government are in a difficult position, saying, “their hands are tied....there’s a line you can’t cross.”
“I’m not in any favour of the government, but I can understand from their point of view where it’s at,” Pauric added.
Billy Dunne, a beef and dairy farmer from Errill, Co Laois, said the rising fuel costs are effecting him “massively.”
“The price of hauling feed and hauling everything is going up everywhere, it’s having a big effect.. I don’t know.. Everything we’re selling is going down in price and everything we’re buying is going up in price, so it’s not going to work out.”
“It’s not viable to do what they’re doing,” said Billy.
Billy believes the government should “start by reducing the taxes they are putting on things, it’s unnecessary for a lot of us.”
When asked if Billy would support more fuel protests similar to what took place earlier in the year, he said, “Definitely. 100% I would support it.”
Roisin, who is originally from Co. Kerry but now rents in Dublin, says it’s easier not to have a car when living in Dublin, “down the country we’re probably a bit deprived,” she said.
Speaking on the fuel protests, she said “it was tragic enough to see at the time what it caused but it was such uproar and up evil that led to them having to do that, it shows that sometimes you have to speak your mind.”
Father and son duo, Trevor and Adam from Co. Cork also spoke on the fuel prices, saying it’s “effecting everyone.”
“When covid hit, they we’re saying that the lorries and trucks were the main factor on the road to keep everyone going, and now they are being hit big time, which is very hard for truckers and everyone on the road,” said Trevor.
The pair agreed that the government should bring down the prices and “help everyone.”
“Peoples wages are staying the same yet the price of everything is going up....they aren’t doing enough to help the people.. hardworking people” Trevor added.
Both we’re in favour of more fuel protests, with Trevor adding, “we’re too quiet in this country.”
Malachy Tighe from Meath says the fuel prices are effecting him “massively.”
“Its very excessive.. contracting prices have gone up, everything from coming here today, filling your car, it’s just incredible.”
However, he doesn’t believe fuel protests are “very helpful” to the public, “if we could avoid it at all, I think the government nearly have to help...sometimes it has to happen but if we can avoid it it’d be all the better,” he said.