Where is the time going? I cannot believe it’s May already. It has been a busy few months promoting the Save Lives campaign. I am delighted to report that there has been big attendances at the different safety meetings, walks and events. There appears to be a huge willingness to change behaviour.

I feel great hope after visiting Cloghans Hill National School in Tuam, Co Galway, for the launch of their new farm safety website, farmsafety4kids.net. The amount of work that went into developing the website by their teacher, Isuelt Mangan, and all the children involved is truly inspiring.

I would encourage everyone to get their children or grandchildren to have a look at this website and learn more about the dangers on the farm.

I attended a very interesting conference recently on men’s health, to look at our national policy in the context of Health Ireland. International Men’s Health Week (MHW) is coming up on 15-21 June. The theme of this year’s week is: creating culture change – it’s time for a new script. It calls on everyone to stop just talking about men’s health and to do something positive and practical to improve it.

I have to say I am impressed by Health Ireland, the Government plan that involves every part of Irish society in improving our health and wellbeing. The wellbeing and health of the people living in our country is the most valuable resource that we have. At a consultation day to develop an obesity policy and action plan, it was frightening to see in black and white the scale of the problem of obesity in Ireland, the prevalence in certain age groups and the risks associated with it.

The consultation document showed that four in five people over the age of 50 in Ireland are overweight or obese. Reversing this trend is not an easy task, but hopefully if communities and Government work in unison we can make a positive change to our health and wellbeing.

I had a most enjoyable evening at the recent launch of The Path to Power, which charts the IFA’s 60-year history and the association’s role in the development of modern Irish agriculture. The book tells the story of six decades of hard work, at home and abroad, using the strength and unity of purpose to deliver for Irish farm families.

It is Green Ribbon time again. I would like to ask everyone to support the Green Ribbon campaign this May, by attending a number of regional walks organised by IFA in association with Coillte and Mental Health Ireland. Details of the walks are available on the IFA calendar.

The Green Ribbon campaign aims to change attitudes about mental health – one conversation at a time. This is the third year that IFA has organised the walks, which have proved to be very popular with local communities.

There is not a person who does not know someone who has been affected by mental health problems and the walks, particularly the cup of tea and chat afterwards, are a very enjoyable way to support the campaign.