“Profound disappointment to farmers,” were the words used by Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) president Pat McCormack to describe Tuesday’s budget. He said there was no sense of urgency being communicated around the threat facing Irish farming.

“Where was the reference to current Brexit-related losses?” he asked. “It would appear the Government has decided to let farm families take the hit on this, which is completely unacceptable.

I’m very concerned by unelected officials who’ll be given sweeping powers

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“ICMSA won’t be alone in finding it very concerning that there was not a single specific reference to our hugely valuable dairy exports and the potential impact in the event of a no-deal Brexit,” said McCormack.

The announcement of a Just Transition Commissioner was taken badly by the ICMSA president, who said: “I’ll ask the question that every farmer in Ireland wants answered: ‘Just’ for who? Whose idea of ‘just’? We want to be part of the solution on climate change and carbon reduction; but I’m very concerned by unelected officials who’ll be given sweeping powers and we’ll be watching this very carefully.”

He added that he does not think that the Government has shown any degree of understanding about the depth nature of the threat that Irish farming and food production is facing, saying: “Farmers will be hugely disappointed by Budget 2020.”

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