Longford farmer at Ploughing Championships hits out at 'through the roof' fuel prices
Pauric McGivney from Granard, Longford, spoke out about fuel costs at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Offaly
Over the past three days, farmers from across the country have been travelling to Screggan, 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 about the fuel prices, which are rising once again.
Pauric McGivney, a farmer from Granard, 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.”