In a passionate speech in front of over 300 farmers, Tim Cullinan vowed to put the fight back into the Irish Farmers Association.
“I’ll fight fearlessly for farmers. We can do that through negotiation, protests or whatever way is needed, but, I’ll guarantee you, I’ll do it with determination.”
Cullinan made commitments to farmers in a number of the main agri sectors.
He promised to fight for an additional €30/ewe for hill sheep farmers, which he feels is well justified when there is no alternative enterprise possible.
Account
He promised to hold the Minister and Department to account on delivering every single euro of the €100m that was announced for beef farmers earlier in the year.
He said: “I’ll hold the Minister to account if one euro of that €100 million is unspent or returned to Brussels.”
He committed to leading discussions himself on bringing grain growers together so they could reap some of the premium on quality cereals. He feels strongly that the multinationals producing Irish whiskey are capturing the value and not passing anything back to the grain farmer.
Comparison
Among other issues, he called on Teagasc to carry out a fair environmental comparison between indoor and grass-based milk production as he fears dairy farmers are often wrongly accused of damaging the environment.
He said he would do all in his power to defend the nutrient management and methane emissions of livestock farmers.
Tim Cullinan launching his IFA presidential campaign in the Ragg.
In a wide-ranging delivery, Cullinan claimed the competition authority was worse than useless.
He criticised Trinity’s John Fitzgerald for taking the easy option suggesting to cut the suckler herd in half.
Cullinan said: “Any decision or advice like this would decimate the west of Ireland, this county and many more counties.”
Any decision or advice like this would decimate the west of Ireland
There were a number of speakers from the floor who were all backing him for president. These supporters mentioned his delivery record to date against supermarkets, against unfair inspections, against red tape, and his record on fighting for the IFA in good and bad times.
Past and present
A number of past and present IFA leaders and members were in attendance in the Ragg including: Pat Hennessy, Laois; Nigel Renaghan, Monaghan; Padraig Joyce, Mayo; Imelda Walsh, Tipperary; Willie Hanrahan, Clare; Pat O’Keeffe, Michelstown; former IFA president John Dillon, Limerick; former IFA general secretary Michael Berkery; Pat Collins, IFA Forestry; TJ Maher and Richard Deasy, Tipperary, as well as many other local IFA members.
Joining Tim at the top table on Friday night were Pat Hogan, Seamus Hayes and Imelda Walsh, current chair of North Tipperary IFA.
Tim is currently Treasurer of IFA and is looking to follow in the footsteps of previous Tipperary IFA Presidents TJ Maher, Rickard Deasy and Joe Rea. The result will be known on the 17th of December.
Read more
‘We’ll go to war’ – Cullinan declares for IFA presidency
Letter from Tim Cullinan, sent to the CCPC.
In a passionate speech in front of over 300 farmers, Tim Cullinan vowed to put the fight back into the Irish Farmers Association.
“I’ll fight fearlessly for farmers. We can do that through negotiation, protests or whatever way is needed, but, I’ll guarantee you, I’ll do it with determination.”
Cullinan made commitments to farmers in a number of the main agri sectors.
He promised to fight for an additional €30/ewe for hill sheep farmers, which he feels is well justified when there is no alternative enterprise possible.
Account
He promised to hold the Minister and Department to account on delivering every single euro of the €100m that was announced for beef farmers earlier in the year.
He said: “I’ll hold the Minister to account if one euro of that €100 million is unspent or returned to Brussels.”
He committed to leading discussions himself on bringing grain growers together so they could reap some of the premium on quality cereals. He feels strongly that the multinationals producing Irish whiskey are capturing the value and not passing anything back to the grain farmer.
Comparison
Among other issues, he called on Teagasc to carry out a fair environmental comparison between indoor and grass-based milk production as he fears dairy farmers are often wrongly accused of damaging the environment.
He said he would do all in his power to defend the nutrient management and methane emissions of livestock farmers.
Tim Cullinan launching his IFA presidential campaign in the Ragg.
In a wide-ranging delivery, Cullinan claimed the competition authority was worse than useless.
He criticised Trinity’s John Fitzgerald for taking the easy option suggesting to cut the suckler herd in half.
Cullinan said: “Any decision or advice like this would decimate the west of Ireland, this county and many more counties.”
Any decision or advice like this would decimate the west of Ireland
There were a number of speakers from the floor who were all backing him for president. These supporters mentioned his delivery record to date against supermarkets, against unfair inspections, against red tape, and his record on fighting for the IFA in good and bad times.
Past and present
A number of past and present IFA leaders and members were in attendance in the Ragg including: Pat Hennessy, Laois; Nigel Renaghan, Monaghan; Padraig Joyce, Mayo; Imelda Walsh, Tipperary; Willie Hanrahan, Clare; Pat O’Keeffe, Michelstown; former IFA president John Dillon, Limerick; former IFA general secretary Michael Berkery; Pat Collins, IFA Forestry; TJ Maher and Richard Deasy, Tipperary, as well as many other local IFA members.
Joining Tim at the top table on Friday night were Pat Hogan, Seamus Hayes and Imelda Walsh, current chair of North Tipperary IFA.
Tim is currently Treasurer of IFA and is looking to follow in the footsteps of previous Tipperary IFA Presidents TJ Maher, Rickard Deasy and Joe Rea. The result will be known on the 17th of December.
Read more
‘We’ll go to war’ – Cullinan declares for IFA presidency
Letter from Tim Cullinan, sent to the CCPC.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: