Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal at a visit to Country Crest, north Dublin, Labour Party leader Joan Burton sympathised with the difficulties experienced by dairy farmers due to the fall in farmgate prices.
“What we would like to see is more security around primary prices and I know it has been very tough at times for milk producers, notwithstanding the fact that the market is now open and a lot of ambitious young producers will be expanding their output,” said Burton. “But price is a factor. Price is obviously a factor for instance in relation to potatoes and ordinary vegetables like carrots. It is very hard when you see in supermakets vegetables, that may have cost a lot, being sold as loss-leader at a very low price and there is an issue there.”
New jobs
After visiting Country Crest, where 100 new jobs were recently announced, and the Kerrygold innovation centre in Naas, Burton believes that readymade foods have a “very important future in the food industry in Ireland. I think there is enormous scope for developing more artisan food production in Ireland and women have been particularly involved in that.”
What we need to do is continue to focus on agriculture while at the same time ensuring that quality of life is maintained and that services are maintained
However, the bigger focus for Labour, which launched its regional development plan on Saturday, is the quality of life in rural areas.
“I think a lot of people who are not farmers want to live in rural areas for the quality of life, the local GAA, for the good schools and the intimacy of the local area,” said Burton. “I think what we need to do is continue to focus on agriculture while at the same time ensuring that quality of life is maintained and that services are maintained. And I think then it is possible to have the best of both worlds.”
€200m for regional jobs
The Labour Party plans to roll out local and regional development plans, including a new social enterprise scheme to rejuvenate rural villages and towns. This would be a continuation of the rural economic development zones (REDZ) system.
“For the regional development of jobs, we’re setting aside €200m plus an additional €50m for other elements of the strategy,” said Burton. “So, for instance, if you are talking about Tralee and its hinterland in Kerry we’re actually bringing both Enterprise Ireland and the IDA directly to those locations. The key thing for us is to get people back to work.”
Listen to an interview with Joan Burton in our podcast below:
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Full coverage: general election 2016
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal at a visit to Country Crest, north Dublin, Labour Party leader Joan Burton sympathised with the difficulties experienced by dairy farmers due to the fall in farmgate prices.
“What we would like to see is more security around primary prices and I know it has been very tough at times for milk producers, notwithstanding the fact that the market is now open and a lot of ambitious young producers will be expanding their output,” said Burton. “But price is a factor. Price is obviously a factor for instance in relation to potatoes and ordinary vegetables like carrots. It is very hard when you see in supermakets vegetables, that may have cost a lot, being sold as loss-leader at a very low price and there is an issue there.”
New jobs
After visiting Country Crest, where 100 new jobs were recently announced, and the Kerrygold innovation centre in Naas, Burton believes that readymade foods have a “very important future in the food industry in Ireland. I think there is enormous scope for developing more artisan food production in Ireland and women have been particularly involved in that.”
What we need to do is continue to focus on agriculture while at the same time ensuring that quality of life is maintained and that services are maintained
However, the bigger focus for Labour, which launched its regional development plan on Saturday, is the quality of life in rural areas.
“I think a lot of people who are not farmers want to live in rural areas for the quality of life, the local GAA, for the good schools and the intimacy of the local area,” said Burton. “I think what we need to do is continue to focus on agriculture while at the same time ensuring that quality of life is maintained and that services are maintained. And I think then it is possible to have the best of both worlds.”
€200m for regional jobs
The Labour Party plans to roll out local and regional development plans, including a new social enterprise scheme to rejuvenate rural villages and towns. This would be a continuation of the rural economic development zones (REDZ) system.
“For the regional development of jobs, we’re setting aside €200m plus an additional €50m for other elements of the strategy,” said Burton. “So, for instance, if you are talking about Tralee and its hinterland in Kerry we’re actually bringing both Enterprise Ireland and the IDA directly to those locations. The key thing for us is to get people back to work.”
Listen to an interview with Joan Burton in our podcast below:
Who are you voting for in the upcoming general election? Let us know in our poll.
Click Read more
Full coverage: general election 2016
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