Macra march ends with meeting with Taoiseach and Govt Ministers

An ovenight march by Macra Na Feirme members concluded with a meeting with the Taoiseah and Government ministers.

Having completed a 79km march from Athy to Government buildings, as part of the Steps for our Future protest, Macra were invited into Government buildings to meet An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, and  Ministers Martin Heydon and Pippa Hackett.  

Having being warmly welcomed by an Taoiseach, Macra were afforded the opportunity to outline their concerns and the solutions that they were bringing to the table. 

Macra were represented by it president John Keane, president-elect Elaine Houlihan, chair of the Rural Youth Committee Niamh Farrell, the chair of the Agricultural Affairs Committee Liam Hanrahan, Shane Dolphin and Mick Curran CEO of Macra.

The delegation raised its concerns in relation to the future of rural Ireland in respect of the eight areas of concern that its members had marched for.

The Taoiseach and three ministers responded positively to the concerns and indeed the solutions that were put forward.

Macra President John Keane said of the meeting: "We had a positive engagement with the Taoiseach and the Ministers, we feel that considerable progress has been made in the areas of a definition of a Family Farm and also in the area of the creation of a succession Scheme for Farmers".

The Taoiseach also made a commitment to meet Macra again to address its concerns in relation to the eight points as raised in 2-3 months time so that progress can be measured.

Macra said it welcomes the commitment from Government to continue to work with Macra in a constructive manner to save rural Ireland.