Tractors parked-up at the top of Kildare Street are making their way out of Dublin as the tractorcade protest which lasted over 24 hours draws to a close.

Many of the tractors had departed for Dublin as early as 6am yesterday morning. Up to 300 farmers with tractors in tow took to the capital’s streets and remained in situ overnight.

Gardaí are overseeing traffic as Kildare Street remains closed while barriers are taken down. The centre of Dublin had been on lockdown and there were fears traffic disruption would continue into this evening.

Issues

Farmers came to Dublin to raise their concerns over a number of issues including beef prices, remaining injunctions and the failure of the Beef Market Taskforce to meet.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed met the protesters at the barricade early on Wednesday morning but organisers were unhappy that they were unable to meet with the Minister. A meeting was organised before 9am where a delegation met the minister and presented him with a letter.

Taskforce

Despite agreement between the delegation and Minister Creed that the beef taskforce should be allowed to start its work, by 15 December at the latest, some protesters were unhappy with the outcome.

These protesters demanded an apology from the minister over comments made in the Dáil relating to C&D Foods. They also wanted the two injunctions which remain against Fine Gael councillor Padraic Braidy and Colm Leanord who protested outside the pet food plant, owned by the ABP group, lifted.

Additional reporting by Marcella Connolly.

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Protesters split over progress on key issues

Farmers refuse to leave Dublin unless they meet Minister Creed