Three party leaders will address the Irish Farmers’ Association on Tuesday, 28 January, as the Association's 65th annual general meeting resumes. The Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin will be first to address the crowd at 1pm, followed by the Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan, who will speak at 3pm. An Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Leo Varadkar is due to speak at 6pm.

The leaders' presentations will be based on previous IFA submissions to the parties, centred on how the next government will work to ensure that CAP payments across Pillar I and Pillar II are increased from their current levels of €1.8bn to €2bn per year, and how the maximum level of national co-financing is to be invested.

Submission

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Also included in the IFA's submission is the request for the closest possible trading relationship with the UK after Brexit, a second BEAM scheme to cover losses post-May 12 2019; and a fund to cover losses that may arise if a no-deal Brexit occurs.

The candidates' positions on climate action will be analysed and dissected by the IFA's national council, which says it will be insisting that the next government follows the science around agriculture and climate.

“This means recognising that there must be a different way to account for methane and that full credit is given to farmers for carbon sequestration,” said an IFA spokesperson.

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