Pat Gilhooley

Ballinamore, Co Leitrim

“You’re in the real good suckler country here – Sligo, Leitrim, north Roscommon, north Mayo, south Donegal, west Cavan, north Longford; that’s where all the exporters come to buy top weanlings. People can go back through generations of breeding and produce a top-quality animal. For that to survive, we need a proper environmental scheme that could put around €15,000 into these farms.”

Eddie Mitchell

Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim

“I shouldn’t be talking about forestry here tonight, but we’re at a crisis point. We’re at around 20% of land under forestry in Leitrim.

“We have a local problem because of a national policy. To continue high-output farming in the east, they want to plant over here, creating a sacrifice zone. We’re asking for support from the IFA’s national leaders to protect Leitrim family farms from industrial-scale plantation by investment companies.”

Louis Martin

Roscommon

“As I see it, the next CAP must contain three things: one, an end to leasing of entitlements- use it or lose it.

“Two, higher payments on the first 20 or so hectares, so smaller farmers have some bit of support.

“And, thirdly, capping of the basic payment at €35,000. If a farmer starts out on 1 January with €35,000 in his fist, he should be able to farm for the year.”

Sinéad Geraghty

Kinnegad, Co Westmeath

Geraghty asked how candidates would promote farm succession and better governance of the IFA.

“I got half answers – that’s the nature of this kind of forum,” she said. “I farm in partnership with my dad, so succession is key for me. We need an early retirement scheme – but this time with a Knowledge Transfer mechanism built in.”

She wants full transparency in the IFA. “I don’t see the IFA president as a workhorse but as a strong leader with strategic vision.”

Adrian Elliott

Glasson, Co Westmeath

Elliott welcomed the success of the dairy industry, but asked if it was fair that consequences from expansion should fall on other sectors, such as a cut in suckler cow numbers. He is on the IFA national environmental committee.

“Nobody else should have to pay if there is a decrease in water quality or an increase in emissions – which there has been.”

All of the candidates said they would resist cuts in either herd. “There was no reality in their answers,” Elliott said.

Lawrence Ward

Dublin IFA

“We heard issues tonight over the structure and communication within the organisation. As a former county chair, I can understand why members are concerned about the communication because it is not great and it does need to improve.

“TB is the main concern for farmers in our area. The compensation fund is not adequate for the modern day when you have to replace your stock and consider all the other costs. It needs to be reviewed and addressed.”