Around 300 people affected by the recent Budget decision to suspend Installation Aid and the Early Retirement Scheme for farmers attended a meeting in Portlaoise this afternoon.
The meeting, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association, heard the concerns of individual farmers who plan to retire, and young farmers who want to set up in farming.
IFA President Padraig Walshe said farmers were angry at the sudden move to block new entrants.
He said the industry needed young trained farmers and the axing of the Retirement Scheme has thrown the succession plans of hundreds of farm families into disarray.
