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26 April 2017

Contributor on 26 Apr 2017

IFA holds major Brexit event

Farmers descended on Goffs, Co Kildare, this week for IFA's Brexit campaign.

Contributor

26 April 2017

More than 800 farmers packed into the IFA Brexit event in Goffs, Co Kildare, this week. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

The livelihoods of thousands of farm families and the future of the agriculture and food industry are at stake in Brexit negotiations; there is a huge responsibility on Irish, EU and UK politicians to get the negotiations right: IFA president Joe Healy addresses the event. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

The first panel discussion of the day asked, ‘‘What now for the EU 27 and the UK?’’ From left: Mairead McGuinness, first vice-president of the European Parliament; Gavin Barrett, Jean Monnet Professor of European Constitutional and Economic Law, UCD; Martin Merrild, COPA president; Rowena Dwyer, IFA chief economist; and Barclay Bell, president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union. \ Finbarr O’Rourke

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan addresses the IFA Brexit event. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

IFA president Joe Healy (centre) with former presidents Eddie Downey, John Bryan, Padraig Walshe, John Dillon, Tom Parlon, Alan Gillis, Tom Clinton and Donie Cashman. \ Finbarr O’Rourke

Wexford IFA out in force at the IFA Brexit event. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

Speakers in the afternoon session: Niall Browne, Dawn Meats CEO; Sean O’Leary, IFA dairy chair; Angus Woods, IFA livestock chair; Fiona Muldoon, FBD chief executive; Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed; Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO; and Jim Woulfe, Dairygold CEO. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

Members of Tipperary IFA at the event. From left: Kathleen Hogan; William Shortall, development officer; Joan Naughton; Sally Slattery; Tim Cullinan, North Tipperary chair; Renée Hogan; Angela McDonnell; Margaret Mounsey; John Coughlan, Munster regional chair; and Imelda Walsh. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

All the way from Kerry: Pat O'Driscoll, Kerry IFA chair; Bernadette O’Driscoll, Kerry farm family chair; John Carroll, Helen O'Mahony, Kerry livestock hair; Jer Bergin, national treasurer; and Denis Griffin, development officer. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

The IFA held a major event last Monday to bring attention to the threats Brexit poses to Irish farming and the agri food sector, and to put pressure on politicians to ensure that farming comes first in the negotiations.

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