The IFA executive council last week held a discussion with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the key farming issues for the upcoming general election.

IFA national chair Jer Bergin said the interaction between members of the council and the Taoiseach was a valuable exercise in putting the IFA’s election submission before Enda Kenny ahead of the general election.

Bergin acknowledged the Taoiseach’s close interest in farming issues, and the positive difference his involvement had made in areas such as CAP, EU and national funding for the Rural Development Programme, the climate change negotiations and third-level education grants.

The national chair said that the viability of family farms has been threatened by a combination of reduced national funding for farm schemes, lower CAP supports and greater exposure to volatile world markets. Farmers need to see tangible measures that address these threats, including:

  • Annual expenditure of €580m (national and EU) for farm schemes, including the restoration of cuts to payment rates for disadvantaged areas and a €250m allocation for GLAS.
  • Stronger EU CAP budget and supports.
  • Increased supports for low-income sectors and vulnerable regions, including targeted payments of €200 per suckler cow and €20 per ewe.
  • Effective measures to redress the balance of power in the food supply chain and ensure fair and viable commodity prices for farmers.
  • Real delivery for farmers from access to new export markets.
  • Improved services and infrastructure for rural Ireland.
  • Taxation measures that improve farm profitability, promote on-farm investment and encourage young farmers.
  • Actions on input costs.
  • Robust defence of Ireland’s interests in trade policy and climate-change negotiations.
  • A single authority to manage waterways and tackle flooding.

    • The IFA will work to ensure that politicians and political parties establish policies that have a real and positive effect on agriculture and rural Ireland. We expect firm commitments from all parties. See www.ifa.ie/general-election.