At Monday’s road safety meeting in the Rhu Glenn in south Kilkenny, the IFA’s deputy president Alice Doyle was batting for the farming community. She stood behind the very tall podium, and began with the following apology. “Because I’m vertically challenged, I’m having difficulty seeing some of you. You have to bear with me; I hope you can hear me, even if you can’t see me.”

It was a moment of humour that diffused the tension building in the packed room.

A box was then provided to stand on, and Doyle, (and some subsequent speakers who also availed of the soapbox) could almost be seen from Waterford bridge.

And she was certainly heard, as she made a series of salient points regarding farmers and safe road use.