Some passengers and commuters using Cork Airport this morning were impacted as farmers formed a convoy with their tractors into the city, airport operator daa said.
The demonstration is part of the Irish Farmers' Association's ongoing campaign against what it says is over-regulation and complication of farming.
Separate groups of farmers assembled at Little Island and near Cork Airport from 7.15am.
From there, farmers travelled in their tractors into Cork city for the demonstration outside the monthly meeting of Cork County Council.
Arriving in Cork City centre en route to @Corkcoco pic.twitter.com/Au5oE80X8Z
— JennïeØSullivân (@OSullivanJennie) February 26, 2024
Around 60 tractors were expected to take part.
Some traffic disruption was expected in Cork city this morning as a result, with Cork Airport earlier advising passengers to allow extra time for journeys to the airport.
The action is part of the campaign that started with nationwide demonstrations on 2 February, but is now focused on councils ahead of June's local elections.
IFA President Francie Gorman said the demonstrations would continue until farmers get solutions on a number of outstanding issues including late payments, the nitrates derogation and residential zoned land tax.
In a statement, a daa spokesperson said: "Like Ireland's farming community, daa is playing its part in the national and global effort to address climate change. Both Cork and Dublin Airports have committed to reducing their Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 51% by 2030 - these are the emissions we have direct control over.
"This commitment is in line with the National Climate Action Plan's public sector targets. Our efforts have been recognised by SEAI, which has named Cork Airport the leading Commercial Semi-State body for its energy management for two years running.
"We also continue to work closely with our airline partners to identify opportunities to reduce the carbon emissions that are under their direct control."
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Farmers stage protest in Brussels as EU ag ministers meet
CAP must be 'anchor consideration in all policies'
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has told today's AGRIFISH meeting in Brussels that it is important to listen to the views of farmers across Europe and to put an increased emphasis on the work that they are doing in food production.
He said the Common Agricultural Policy needed to be an anchor consideration in all policies.
He said he welcomed a paper today from the Belgium presidency, which outlined in the short term, steps that could be taken towards simplification. He said there was ongoing engagement with the European Commission in this regard.
He said the future CAP budget needed to be increased and strengthened as it had become a smaller proportion of the EU Budget.
He said this meant the income for farmers had not kept pace with what was happening in other parts of life.
"We have to make sure that the CAP budget reflects the massively important work that farmers are doing on a day-to-day basis, in terms of providing food security and top class, safe and sustainable food to people across Europe," he said.
