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Angus Woods, IFA livestock chair has rejected a motion tabled by the Green Party which is seeking major changes to forestry policy, including the reintroduction of wolves to Ireland.
“This motion is clearly borne out of a desire to turn rural Ireland into some type of fairy tale playground for people that visit, but don’t actually live or work in rural Ireland.
"The re-introduction of large predatory species that have been absent from Ireland for the last 250 years is crazy and will result in huge destruction to sheep flocks and other smaller domesticated animals.
For example, Polish farmers are struggling to continue sheep production because of the slaughter of their lambs and ewes by wolves
Savagery
“Unfortunately it is sheep farmers such as myself that are left with the disturbing and upsetting job of cleaning up after the savagery and slaughter of dog attacks on our ewes and lambs. We do not need the Green Party to open up another front for sheep farmers in defending their sheep against wolves” he said.
My Department, @DeptAHG has no plans to reintroduce wolves in Ireland.
— ??Josepha Madigan (@josephamadigan) October 1, 2019
The reintroduction of a large predator which has been absent for 250 years might undermine existing conservation programmes and would do considerable damage to farming. https://t.co/qbx46JCOn8
On Tuesday, 1 October, Woods was re-elected as chair of the European Commission’s civil dialogue group on animal products, which includes representation from farmers and consumer stakeholders across Europe.
It covers beef, sheep, pigmeat, poultry and honey bee production. The beef and veal committee covers all aspects of the beef sector, with representatives from farm organisations, processors, traders, retailers, environmentalists and other NGOs from every member state.
Following a meeting in Brussels, Woods said: “I see the damage that large carnivores are causing in other EU member states. At every meeting of this European group, we discuss the damage being caused by large predatory species and the severe difficulties and upset this is causing farmers.
"For example, Polish farmers are struggling to continue sheep production because of the slaughter of their lambs and ewes by wolves. Also, in regions of France, similar destruction is being caused by wolves. This situation must not be allowed occur in Ireland.”
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