Contractors are coming to terms with impending laws forcing certain tractors to adhere to an NCT-style system for tractors. Farm and Forestry Contractors Ireland (FCI) held a western regional meeting in Gort, Co Galway on Tuesday 14 March.

Those present were concerned about how the proposed NCT testing will be regulated and carried out, with cost being a huge factor. Some contractors expressed their anger at being targeted because they may be a “soft touch”.

Chair of the western region Martin Fleming was of the opinion the proposal is not needed and said it would be another regulation the contractor would have to carry and that at the end of the day it would have to be paid for by farmers.

A lot of anger was voiced on how the RSA has gone about the new proposal, with no proper plan being released and the lack of responses to several questions posed.

Listen to "What do contractors think about tractor NCTs?" on Spreaker.

Mike Barry stated that it was “a joke”, because there should be a curriculum laid out, which people could examine before any law is introduced. How tractors would be tested and if other machines – such dump trailers, low-loaders and hedgecutters – need to be tested were other talking points.

CEO of FCI Michael Moroney explained that the proposal is to test tractors on three specific areas. These are emissions, brakes and performance, and visual. Emissions, brakes and performance can be easily tested. However, the visual side is extremely broad. There was huge uncertainty on how visual is going to be tested, with cost within this area being questioned by contractors.