Twenty-nine towns around the country experienced traffic disruption on Monday as disgruntled farmers drove their tractors in protest at falling farm incomes. Tractors assembled at marts, GAA clubs, hotels, golf clubs and other places with parking facilities before travelling slowly through the town centres. The protest in Portlaoise was led by Irish Farmers' Association president Pádraig Walshe. The IFA claims that the crisis in the rural economy has been caused by Government cutbacks, adverse weather and declining global commodity prices. Irish farmers are of course the world's most experienced protesters.

On Tuesday night the last of four meetings organised by the "24/7 Frontline Services Alliance" took place in Dublin, with an estimated 1,300 public servants in attendance. Speakers vociferously rejected any further cuts in their take home pay. Damien McCarthy, vice-president of the Garda Representative Association, received most publicity when he appeared to suggest that his members were ready to break the law if salary cuts were imposed.

The arts world is the latest group to protest at possible cuts in their funding and on Wednesday high-profile representatives addressed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Included in the delegation were actors Brendan Gleeson and Gabriel Byrne, novelist Sebastian Barry and Garry Hynes, artistic director of Druid.

The Civil Public and Services Union, which represents lower paid civil servants, has warned its members that further pay cuts are being planned and has forecast industrial action by its members in advance of the December Budget. Meanwhile talks between the Government and the social partners are due to begin tomorrow.

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