FCI speak at multi-sector public meting in Portlaoise

Ann Gleeson Hanrahan, managing director of the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI), attended a public meeting in Portlaoise on Saturday night.

The gathering at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise drew around 400 attendees from a range of sectors, including agricultural contracting, farming, and road haulage.

Richie White (FCI National Secretary & CEETTAR Board Member), Norman Egar (FCI National Chair), Ciaran Mullooly (MEP), Ann Gleeson Hanrahan (FCI Managing Director) at the public meeting in Portlaoise on March 28th 2026.

Many attendees at the meeting said that the increase in fuel prices would significantly affect farmers’ silage costs in the weeks ahead, and that the escalating costs are not sustainable.

The main call from the floor at the meeting was the suspension of the carbon tax for the duration of the war in the Middle East.

The gathering at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise drew around 400 attendees from a range of sectors

Ann Gleeson Hanrahan said the finances are not there in the contracting sector to absorb these extra costs.

"People's desperation was clear to be seen. We all know as contractors, construction and haulage that this is impossible to survive with the diesel increases.

"Already we have seen in agriculture, there's a 20% rise on lubricants, there's a 25% rise on AdBlue and other service parts. This is only what has come to light at the moment.

"There is a serious knock-on effect from the price of diesel. Everyone is talking about just the price of diesel, but it's more than that," she said.