Hundreds of farmers in the Irish Republic have driven tractors into the centre of Dublin, at the end of a week-long protest against falling incomes.

IFA president John Dillon is to address a rally

Thousands travelled to the capital from all over the country although the number allowed into the centre has been limited to 300, to minimise disruption to traffic.

The protest culminated in a rally outside government buildings.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) says its members suffered a 13% drop in income last year, and that the government's 2003 budget will only make things worse.

Family farming threat

"Every farmer that I met in the country over the last week believes that (Agriculture Minister) Joe Walsh has stood back from agriculture and let it go to its knees," said IFA president John Dillon.

He said the crisis threatened the "very survival of full-time family farming".

Up to 2,000 tractors a day have been involved in the "tractorcade" protests, which have snaked across the country at spees of about 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) from north, south, east and west.

The IFA says its 80,000 members have an average income of 15,000 euros (£9,800) per annum, about one third of the average public sector pay rate.

It is demanding a "positive move" from the government to boost incomes.