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LAST UPDATE | 16 Jan 2020
GARDAÍ HAVE SAID traffic is seriously delayed southbound on the M50 this evening due to a farmers’ tractor protest.
Blockages are being reported from the Port Tunnel M1 merge onto the M50 with the tractors creating a huge backlog with their go-slow protest.
It comes after the protesting farmers moved from the city centre to Dublin Port earlier this afternoon.
Dozens of tractors, decorated with placards, arrived yesterday afternoon and remained overnight. They brought areas of the city to a standstill as farmers journeyed to the port, and caused gridlock on the M50 during the evening rush hour.
Just before 6pm, the tractors were approaching J5 at Finglas.
The M50 Twitter account advised that “traffic remains extremely heavy behind them”.
At around 7pm, the same account said the “main bulk of the tractors have left the M50 now to head out the M3, M4 and M7. Traffic remains slow in parts but the heavy traffic from earlier has eased.”
M50 Dublin / TwitterThe main bulk of the tractors have left the M50 now to head out the M3, M4 and M7. Traffic remains slow in parts but the heavy traffic from earlier has eased. #m50safety
— M50 Dublin (@M50Dublin) January 16, 2020
A collision northbound, meanwhile, between J6 Blanchardstown and J5 Finglas was also causing traffic delays on the motorway this evening.
The organisers of the protest, the Individual Farmers of Ireland, are critical of the deal reached with the government over beef prices last year after weeks of demonstrations by farmers during the summer.
The farmers also criticised the Beef Task Force and accused politicians of not listening to the farming community when they voice their concerns.
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How to lose support in one move.
@Fred the Muss: Rubbish People no the farmers are been robbed
@pat seery: So take it out on those doing the robbing not on the average joe trying to get home after a long day at work.
@pat seery: Being robbed because the demand for beef on the kitchen table is not there anymore!
All these farmers have land. Do something else with it.
Dairy , crops, forestry.
Think outside the box lads, instead of blocking the m50 with the the finest of machinery.
Not a poor farmer in town today from what I could see today.
@pat seery: Know they’re not.
@Fred the Muss: its makes me soooo angry that the environment is affected by this move
@tom pepper: The lads growing crops and producing milk get fleeced too A lot of the machinery you saw is likely hire purchase too.
@tom pepper: seriously?? Why dont you quit you’re job, go back to college, sell you’re house and you’re lovely car. Do something knew, something outside you’re comfort zone
@pat seery: Yes, take it to the Government, the factories and the supermarkets. Not their actual customers.
@Tommy C: what do you think everyone had to do with FF bankrupt the country? That’s exactly what half the country had to do. The half that isnt Public Sector and cant just have a tantrum and bring the city to a halt.
@Tommy C: I did. I quit my job as a farm hand, and got a job in the city with no government hand outs. I now rent a flat in the city. Have not got a car, can not afford one. I’m not in my comfort zone either but what’s the point in whinging. I earn money by working hard cause I would rather do that than stand outside the Dail with a cap and spoon waiting for hand outs!
@tom pepper: plenty of demand always has been and always will be too, the farmers are being robbed by processors facilitated by government, one of them alone made €170 million last year alone while farmers loose money. I have no problem with anyone making a profit but to be sustainable the primary producer has to make a modest profit at least. Consumers should be out supporting farmers as they are being ripped off too that 170 million is before the supermarkets get their 30%
@tom pepper: @tom pepper: not a poor farmer in town? Been out around the country much?… they should diversify into forestry right? after which their land can never be used for anything else.. your forestry knowledge is almost as good as your farming knowledge. Diversify into crops… because all land is usable for any purpose right? Swap over to dairy because all you need is a few buckets for milking right… no 50k minimum cost outlay there.
Support your fellow countrymen instead of trying to walk on them for daring to fight for what they are due. Attitudes of lads in the Pale haven’t changed in last 100 years.
@Tommy C: Probably because he has a job with pay that he is happy with. It is unlikely that he getting taxpayer funded subsidies and grants for doing it either. You could do with going back to school yourself to learn some English spelling and grammar.
@Pat Farrelly: when you lose the argument comment on grammar that’s a lovely way to make a strong point. Red tape regulations low prices and lads here commenting about something they do not understand is just typical of what most have to live with.
@tom pepper: you obviously know nothing about farming. Farmers do all of those you mentioned. Dairy, Forestry and crops. Unfortunately they have also been destroyed because we dont want to pay more than a euro for milk and potatoes. The tractors they drive could well have been bought after they remortgaged their farms
@Jim Casey: The only reason that I included your standard of basic spelling and grammer in my post is because you were the one who suggested that another poster here needed to ‘go back to college’. I think that is a bit rich coming from someone who clearly needs to further their own basic education before advising others to do so. The farmers are well subsidised and cosseted by the taxpayers of this country. None of them are homeless or hungry. I don’t live in Dublin, I was not on the M50 yesterday, but after seeing the self-entitled whingers blocking it with their expensive tractors I have decided that I won’t buy Irish beef no more.
Delaying people from getting home from an honest days work, People collecting children from childcare, People trying to visit people in hospital…. WELL DONE FARMERS …. A protest against Dublin considering the TD’s your are aiming your protest too are not currently in Dublin.
@Neil Mc Donagh: great comment. Totally agree.
@Neil Mc Donagh: Not to mention the port tunnel which is used frequently by people try to catch a flight at Dublin airport … originally supported the protest – add me to the anti-farmer list !!
@Neil Mc Donagh: I have lost interest in their cause now. They’ve made a complete nuisance of themselves.
@Neil Mc Donagh: ahh god love you,, held up for an hour or two, while others are fighting for their financial life’s,, do some research and see how high the suicide rate is for people who go out of business and are left trying to hold families together while paying of mortgage and business (farming equipment)loans,, maybe a little bit of perspective for those who are getting delayed is in order…..
@devils avacado: “fighting for your financial life” – does not include bringing the city to a standstill.
All the young people who couldn’t get jobs when FF (supported by the farmers) bankrupted the country? What did they do? They emigrated.
I needed a job to support my family. What did I do? I took a job in London.
Absolutely no sympathy with these people.
@Shazam37: well maybe if more people showed a bit of backbone and stood up for themselves and others who just want to earn a living, you wouldn’t have had to immigrate. For far to long people who work hard for a living are used as pawns for millionaire investors,(helped by friends in government) who run supermarkets and processing plants and turn over massive profits at the expense of farmers by selling cheap food, I can assure you it’s the little man that is covering the cost of this cheap food, ohh imagine the humanity if multi nationals profits took a dip and investors didn’t make their multi millions per annum.. People in this country need to wake up and see why this is a great little country for millionaires to do business in, all the perks for the rich, all of the back of the worker.
@Neil Mc Donagh: totally agree
@devils avacado: ‘Fighting for their financial life’! They can afford to misuse and waste plenty of taxpayer subsidised agricultural diesel inconveniencing the very people who pay for all of their subsidies.
@Pat Farrelly: do you honestly think these people are out on the streets doing what they are doing because they are being greedy and not at breaking point?? Go do some research on what these guys are earning for working 7 days a week and a minimum of 12 hours day, before you wade in with your ignorance. The story of the wealthy farmer might be true for a handful of huge commercial farmyards but the average small and medium sized holding is working endlessly just to keep his farm afloat and his head barely above the poverty line. But don’t let the facts get in the way of a well spun story that you have fallen for hook line and sinker. Divide and conquer, the number one strategy used by those looking to keep hard working people under the foot, while they take all the profits from the top.
@devils avacado: don’t try and talk sense to these people! I was caught on the m50 traffic this evening. I cursed and blinded and wanted to get home. But on the other hand I agree with what they are doing – holding up the city is the only way to get attention from the government. I grew up in the country and most farmers work so hard and live a very modest life. If every farmer stopped tomorrow most of these would both complain in a few weeks that our nice fillet steak is €100 and how can we have that and a nice bottle of wine anymore and relax in our favorite restaurant… I think some people have zero idea how farmers contribute and live in their little urban bubble with their milk from premier diaries!
@Pat Farrelly: those subsidies are there so you dont have to pay 8-10 euros for a bag of carrots (which is the true price) the real losers here, regardless of protests and being angry with farmers, are us. People everywhere working their backs off, paying taxes for a broken system which uses divided and conquer tactics at every opportunity to keep us squabbling whilst the Larry Goodmans of Ireland sit back and devise another nasty plan. Wake UP EVERYONE!
I think a meat free weekend would be a nice way to pay these lads back…
@Manbackonboard:
For what it’s worth, and as far as I am aware, none of the main farming organisations are supporting this. Not even the newly organised beef-plan.
I’m not sure what it is these lads are actually trying to achieve, and I’m not entirely sure they do either.
With current prices and the environmental pressures that are coming down the line, farming is facing a real juncture point very soon and it’s understandable some people are starting to feel helpless.
@Tim Pot: I grew up on a farm which my brother still works and I work in an industry that provides services to the food and agricultural sectors but I feel really sorry for the people stuck in traffic in Dublin this evening trying to get home to their loved ones or other activities that they may be involved in, either way a disruption like this is unfair on our fellow taxpayers and citizens. None of the politicians that this targets are in any way put out by this protest.
@Tim Pot: they are threatening the government basically saying “ ye don’t care about rural Ireland closing down so we can close Dublin down handy enough……….here’s a taste of what we can do”. On your second point. The price of beef is 30cent a kilo higher in Europe and in our biggest export market Britain it’s 40c a kilo higher. The factories are profiteering off the farmers through a cartel situation. It’s easy to shout about handouts and big tractors but if people actually read up an unbiased account of the situation then they’d understand the anger around it. I’m not a farmer but am well informed enough about it and so I’d be firmly on the side of the farmers
@Manbackonboard:
I agree. The inner city protests were actually being supported by all the cycling campaigners across dublin because it demonstrated the benefits of car free streets. Very important to keep the public on side.
@Eamonn O Connell:
The problem with that is there currently is no government, so all they will get is an empty promise from every politician they speak to.
@Eamonn O Connell: yea? And how about the average mortgage rate in Ireland compared to Europe? The cost of insurance? The cost of rent? The cost of childcare?
Everyone’s getting fleeced. Bringing the city to a standstill is a total disgrace.
@Tim Pot: I can see your point but the ones canvassing will be hearing about the disruption on the doorsteps and when they get into power will be terrified of it happening again. The rural ones will be dependent on a lot of agricultural votes anyway so have to be seen to do something
@Shazam37: ah water protests hauliers protests taxi protests climate protests all brought the city to a standstill too if you have issues organize a protest about it
@Eamonn O Connell: bugger that. I’ll just leave. Leave the rain sodden €&@t pile that is this country and it’s backwards ignorant voters.
High taxes. Dreadful services. The Irish way.
@Manbackonboard: Meat free for lent. Let’s start a campaign.
@Shazam37: ull be missed
@Tim Pot: they’re mostly trying to get a slice of the lucrative farmer organisation money. This is all about building a career for a few wannabe populist farm ‘leaders’.
@Ole dan tucker: My taxes will be I promise you. Massive pensions crisis coming. Country barely running a surplus and 200 billion in debt.
Young people fled the country in droves when the FFFG loonies bankrupted it again.
And now! We’ve to pay your pensions and endless public sector pay wages. With terrible infrastructure and worse to come.
No thanks. .
Clogging the port tunnel only affects the average individual who is trying to get home from work. It doesn’t affect the government’s decisions. There must be better, less alienating ways to protest.
After this attack on the Dublin people, I’m only buying UK beef or not at all, Cheak of them, Protest to your local TD, they are the ones inflicting the rules on you.
@Still-Not-News: have fun finding UK beef in Ireland
They should be arrested.
@Davy Evans: ok, if arrested they’ll require two cops in a patrol car per prisoner and a third to remove his tractor from the M50. More police will be required to protect the tractors wherever they are stored to stop the farmers taking them back or other people damaging/stealing them. Extra cops required at station level to process and search the prisoners. More extra cops required at scene to defend the arresting cops from the other farmers. All in all a logistical nightmare.
@Jes McNamara: They should be, that’s not saying they are going to be. They should be all issued fines anyway. I won’t be eating Irish beef anymore. My wife missed a hospital appointment because of it. Totally went about it the wrong way.
@Davy Evans: Lol! traffic never moves on the M50 or n7 or n4 or on any major roads around cities, because successive visionless governments have little to no plan of how to improve our beginners transport infrastructure. Don’t believe the hype, like everyone was robbed of that one occasion where they travelled 20k in under an hour! This is the cheapest of cheap shots.
@thesaltyurchin: Traffic moves on Merrion Square. It didn’t this morning with these gobsh..es
@Davy Evans: people like you are the reason the country is the way it is you have no backbone and as long as you’re alright thats all that matters. If people don’t protest they will be walked all over.
@Young Angus: So I’m the reason the farmers signed off on a deal that they now don’t want. I’m the reason they block up the whole city. I’m the reason the clowns come up and their isn’t even anyone at home to hear their voice. I’m the reason the country is the way it is..? You’re the type that wants a protest for everything. Get a grip.
Taught it illegal to drive tractor on motorway?
@Kipper O Keeffe: not if it can do 50 kmph
@Do the Bort man: they weren’t
@Do the Bort man: they were going at about 10kmh. They’ve shot themselves in the hoof.
@Aido Yollom: the law doesn’t state you must drive at 50kmph, its just states that the vehicle has to have the capability of doing that speed.
Not saying its right or wrong but if we as a nation stood up to this government, they would have no choice but to deliver their promises, such as temporary USC, better healthcare and reduce homelessness.
We done it for the water charges why not do it again. Personally I support the farmers because we let this government away with absolute murder every election.
@Peter O Donnell: But the farmers are not inconviencing the government in any way – instead they are taking it out on the average Joe heading home from work.
@Gavin Conran: but if the average joe goes to his local Td and says “ keep them culchies out of the city cos I’m fed up of the delays” then the TD is suddenly under pressure to find a solution to the situation.
@Peter O Donnell: has to get lot worse before us lazy lot get off our bums and do something about it! #dontvote
@Peter O Donnell: how do you increase services on spending while reducing taxation like you suggest? All while we are already heavily in debt
What ideas do you have that arent just sweeping illogical statements
Farmers not making themselves any friends doing this
Just why there no need for the to make every one else’s life hard. Other people have jobs to that demand and pay peanuts so there point is moan and get more. Annoying really is maybe I’ll park my van on the m50 and my company will give me more money dout it.
@Ryan Holmes: I’m game if you want to give it a shot. Apparently we wouldn’t be moved or arrested.
@Ryan Holmes: that’s protest …. the nurses got slated for protesting – and they are going to other countries to nurse now. Teachers protested and they were slammed for it. Protest = discomfort for joe public but that’s the nature of the fight against a bad government. Farmers cannot emigrate unless they all sell their land – make bigger factory farms…….. oh maybe that’s what the government the EU and corporations want. Think people please
Road Traffic Act, 1961
Prohibition of obstruction of traffic. 98. —(1) A person shall not do any act (whether of commission or omission) which causes or is likely to cause traffic through any public place to be obstructed. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence
@John: and the motorway rules.
@John: so thousands of people should have been arrested during the water protesters so?
Has to be illegal surely
You or me done that we would be arrested on the spot
Just why there’s other ways to prove a point than making every one else’s life hard
Whatever support or sympathy the farmers of Ireland had is disappearing like a good looking sheep of a Friday night.
This was really a nasty thing for the farmers to do, nasty, nasty.
@John Legat: belly full o tae n sangwedges n ready for road
Will stay in bed til noon tomorrah
Really poor form lads, lets take it out on the average civilian
No problem in buying there new mercs from there reps grants
@Wiggy Wigsters Fitness: reps ended years ago, the max payment was 5k offset by a reduction in allowable stocking rate, 20 farmers together couldn’t have bought a mercy out or reps but good story
@Wiggy Wigsters Fitness: please explain your understanding of Reps, a scheme that ended years ago.
How clever, turn thousands against you and cause little or no disruption to the politicians ur trying to make a point with. Idiots!
@Al Smith: spot on that’s exactly what they are doing
@Al Smith: farmers are working men 2, and its the likes of them that stood up against the powers to be years ago that won this countries independence, and I’m sure back then some people were complaining 2 because their own little routine was upset, as men with back bones stepped out of the norm to fight for what is right.
@DERRY1973: And now they all vote Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, slow hand clap.
Here’s an idea. Let’s blockage the Marts and markets every week and block the farm gates
Fair play to them for Protesting! If only the rest of the people would
@Daithi De Roiste: Protesting what? No clear objective stated by any that were interviewed.
@Daithi De Roiste: Protesting what exactly? None interviewed could give a clear idea of what they wanted.
Pric$s. No way should they have been allowed hold up every lane on the M50 during rush hour and cause chaos. Wonder how much public support they lost today. They spoke about the right to protest, I’ve no problem with that, but what about the right of the general public on freedom of movement.
@Jason Ebbs: just like most people here, you have no problem with their right to protest, as long as it doesn’t effect you.
@Do the Bort man: there you have it, correct.
Absolutely ridiculous. They should have been stopped going on to the motorway when they are clearly breaking the law
@Brendan Traynor: only breaking the law of the tractor can’t do 50 kmph
Absolute w&nkers.
Only alienating themselves.
Great bunch of lads.
The poor Dubs …
@A_H: 3 hours and counting to get home from work
@A_H: it’s not only Dubs who live in Dublin.
@A_H: They will be late for ther next game in Longford
@A_H: AH,would you ever just go away,you fool.
@A_H: plenty of people who live outside Dublin County caught in the traffic jams.
Guards pathetic. Should have at least confined them to one lane. Did they pay toll? Slap fines on them!
The farmers had the right protest blocking deliveries to main distributions. Politicians were listening. The couldn’t give a fiddlers bringing Dublin to a halt and making the every day commuters life even more miserable is just plain idiocy.
They should not have been allowed to do this. Disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of tired commuters helps no one
Good idea to let them all go home via port tunnel?? They came in via different routes, why not split them up at send them home different routes? And where they all 50kph tractors?? M50??
What a pack of inconsiderate arseholes
Reduced consumption of beef after mad cow disease scare and now will go out of my way to stop altogether – what they have done is abusive
Good on the farmers, even though I was delayed getting home this evening, I applaud their guts. Saw an old farmer (65ish) scuffling with the guards earlier today, they handled him well. These people are seeing their way of life disappearing as the World moves on, its torturous.
@john mounsey: Yea people who can’t get their kids from creche on time I’m Sure are applauding.
Disgraceful action.
@Shazam37: Needless to say a first World problem
Not a fan of the “poor farmer” mentality as the vast majority of the state’s wealth is generated in the GDA but two individuals, Larry and Denis sucked and continue to suck vast amounts of money from our country like a pair of vampires and the fight should be with them and their political allies.
One of the pair, Denis has he boot on the throats of beef farmers with a virtual monopoly and that’s not good.
After this, I’d like to identify as an extractor fan
Have no problem with protesting but why were these tractor drivers allowed to make their way to the M50? Are tractors not one of the vehicles barred from motorways?
@Maeve Hurrell: no
Right protest wrong time. This government is only delighted everyone is whinging about this protest and not about them.
Families having both parents working to pay over inflated mortgages. Housing shortage.
Fighting the eu to not take 13billion in taxes.
Zero hours contracts and low paid wages.
USC still being taken out of our wages.
Raising the pension age to 68.
The government are laughing at us infighting with each other.
And the same sheep will vote in the same shower of gangsters in a few weeks.
Boycott Irish beef people, when was the last time any of us got a grant from the government or an EU subsidy? The only way to end the artificial propping up of unprofitable farms is to stop buying their product, enough tax-payers money has been wasted on this black hole.
Up the dubs cobib
F#ck the farmers
@the shepard: F#ck you
They love nothing more than giving Dublin a bloody nose
Tried passing a few of these guys near Bray North. There tractors were state of the art new machines. Those vehicles are seriously expensive and most I past we’re almost brand new! Just saying
@Ciaran Daly: what’s your point? They are all financed
Let’s please ask why these people are at the end of their tether?
Irish beef production is predominately a grass based system, with 617 thousand tonnes produced in 2017. In 2017, Ireland exported an estimated 537 thousand tonnes of beef worth approximately €1.85 billion. In 2017, 189,000 cattle were exported live from Ireland worth approximately €100 million.
Never in the history of European single market have we (consumers) ever spent so little of our disposal income on what we but into our and our children’s mouths.
These families farmers are crying out fairness and equity. Every REIT established within the ROI since Noonan’s Finance Act will pay 0% Tax.
These families are the mirror of the Irish soul – and central to the future of a rural Irish life. They will hold the balance of power
@Billy Brennan’s Barn: Well said. As a person reared on a farm and passionate about the planet/countryside/ireland I am in the minority, perhaps in wanting the Greens in government. We need to immediately stop live exports for 1. Welfare reasons, and 2. add more value in Ireland. We’ve produced the World’s best meat and dairy products yet are not getting enough dividend for our extraordinary produce.
The next time the farmers cause chaos with Dublin Traffic, the drivers of Dublin should block all roads leading out of Dublin to prevent them getting home. When they cannot milk their cows and to the farm work maybe they will think twice before causing traffic chaos for Dublin’s citizens. The people of Dublin can do very little to change things for the farming community.
@Derek Hughes: think about what you just said. Why would beef farmers worry about milking their cows? Its amazing how distant people are to where their food comes from.
Quick Question to ask
What was with the long queues of traffic around Woodies Lucan and up around the m50. this morning around 11am ? Was there an accident?
What’s there beef ?
Feckers driving down the M11 at 60km pH in the dark, with no hazard lights, knowing full well it’s illegal to drive tractors on a motorway. Saw one almost cause a crash. At this stage I don’t give a shit what they’re protesting about.
@Irene Millar: Well that’s not illegal. Any vehicle can do 50 kmph can drive on a motorway.
have your say