The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine must deliver for farmers on climate action and CAP schemes for vulnerable sectors.
That is according to IFA president, Tim Cullinan, who led a delegation to meet the minister this morning (Friday, October 15th).
Climate action and CAP schemes
Speaking following the exchange, he said:
“The meeting was a full and frank exchange of views. We left the minister in no doubt about the depth of feeling amongst farmers about the current direction of government policy towards farming.”
Cullinan said McConalogue gave a commitment to come forward with a budget for the following within the next week:
- National co-financing for CAP Pillar II schemes to include targeted support for suckler, sheep and tillage farmers.
The minister also advised that the government would be announcing Ireland’s carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings shortly.
“These are two massive decisions for the future of Irish farming. Minister McConalogue’s tenure will be judged on how the government delivers on these two issues,” Cullinan added.
The IFA president said the farm group’s protests last Friday showed that farmer anger on the ground is building.
“The government must take this message on board. Farmers and the agri-sector are the backbone of the rural economy. We won’t be sacrificed to pacify the Green Party,” he concluded.
Anger
“Farmers feel that our government wants to regulate them out of business. Every policy, including those on climate action, CAP and the Nitrates Action Plan, is designed to reduce production.”
That is according to IFA president Tim Cullinan, who spoke following the farm group’s four regional rallies on Friday, October 8th, 2021.
The farm leader stressed that it should be clear to the government that anger is building amongst farmers.
“The clear message from thousands who turned out is that farmers are frustrated at the way government is treating them.”
“Farm families are being subjected to policies driven by regulation, restriction and reduction without any heed to its impact on farm family income and overall economic impact.”
