A further demonstration against the tillage crisis fund is taking place outside Agriculture House, with straw now being brought to Department HQ.

IFA grain committee chair Liam Dunne is leading the protest in Agriculture House, with four other IFA officials occupying the building. Farmers from Tipperary, Carlow, Laois and Offaly are expected to join in later on Thursday.

Department security have refused permission for anybody else to enter the building, except the five farmers who stayed overnight. IFA president Joe Healy remains outside the building, having been refused permission to enter by security.

IFA officials have been gathering outside the Kildare St offices since 7.45am on Thursday morning.

Local IFA representatives are also expected to call into Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed's office in Macroom, Co Cork, later on Thursday in support of the grain farmers protesting in Dublin.

Meeting

Meanwhile, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson has said that on Wednesday the Department received a request from the IFA for a meeting to discuss a proposed crop compensation fund for tillage farmers affected by the severe weather events of September 2016.

"The Department is happy to facilitate this meeting as soon as possible," the spokesperson said.

"Notwithstanding approval by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the outline of a crop loss compensation scheme, the final terms and conditions and application process for such a scheme are yet to be finalised and published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine."

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