The farmers, all members of Limerick IFA, had gathered to demonstrate against the cuts in REP's 4 and a proposal to cut Disadvantaged Area payments by a further 11 per cent.

IFA county chairman Eddie Scanlan said that the Minister had agreed to meet a couple of them - himself and vice chairman David Thompson.

"We put our concerns to him and when we came out those outside demanded to hear from the Minister himself."

They started knocking angrily on the door and he stormed out past them and into his car with a driver. A few of the farmers then blocked the car in a cul-de-sac. Then the gardai arrived."

Mr Scanlan said that the level of frustration was very high.

Mr O'Dea said that he had assured the two IFA representatives that he would do everything he could to fight their case. "I know how they feel. Some of my own family are in farming."

"Others started banging ruthlessly on the door. I told them I had met their representatives and that I was on the way to a funeral. My assistant was driving, but a couple of them, whom I had never seen before, stood in front of the car and wouldn't let us pass."

The Minister said that when the gardai arrived "they managed to coax the farmers to let the car pass",