Deirdre Clune Fine Gael

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

The abolition of milk quotas in 2015 is a really significant opportunity for Irish farmers.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

Creating and retaining jobs in rural Ireland.

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

I have the political experience at both national and European level to understand how to negotiate for the best outcomes for Irish farmers. I believe that you need someone in Europe who understands how it works. I do. You need someone in Brussels who actively engages with our partners in Europe, not someone who shouts from the sidelines. CAP will play a critical role in keeping rural Ireland alive. I will be a member of the EPP, if elected, and will be able to form important alliances that will deliver for Irish farmers and make sure that our voice is heard.

Sean Kelly Fine Gael

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

The Irish family farm model is made viable and profitable.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

The economic recovery and jobs spread to rural Ireland ensuring vibrant communities into the future.

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

Two main reasons. As a farmer myself, living in rural Ireland, I am keenly aware of the issues facing farming and rural communities. Farmers need people in the European Parliament who understand their issues, can articulate, and have the influence to make a difference. Secondly, my record over the last five years in speaking for and getting results for our farming and rural communities is second to none, through working with farming bodies and building alliances to further the causes, especially on issues such as beef, milk and sugar.

Simon Harris Fine Gael

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

Defending Irish farming incomes is the top issue.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

Jobs.

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

We cannot have a sustainable economy without a vibrant farming sector. As John Bryan said when he endorsed me – and just like I have done through my work in defending taxpayers at PAC – I will stand up for farming families. From putting a stop to unfair farm inspections and implementing a commonsense approach instead, to defending farming incomes and CAP, farming families will know, they have an ally in me. I will continue the work of Mairead McGuiness and, as MEP, will work day and night to defend farming families and grow our most important economic sector.

Kieran Hartley Fianna Fáil

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

Farm incomes.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

Youth unemployment and job creation

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

I got involved in politics through fighting for my community over Government plans to construct unnecessary pylons and industrial wind farms across our land. Raising my family in a rural area, I’m painfully aware of the challenges facing us through cuts in services, Garda stations, post offices, school closures and the scourge of youth unemployment and emigration which is tearing the soul out of our communities. If elected, I will fight to protect farm incomes, support active farmers and seek investment in rural areas of Ireland South so that we stop the death by a thousand cuts of our communities.

Brian Crowley Fianna Fáil

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

Reducing bureaucracy and red tape and ensuring that ongoing negotiations over trade deals do not negate the success of the Irish beef industry.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

The deterioration of services in rural areas and the attempted centralisation of LEADER that takes power away from rural communities, destroying vital services as a result.

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

I think farmers and the people of rural Ireland should vote for me for the service I’ve given as an MEP. The voters can trust that I represent their best interests in Brussels from the meetings I have with them in their local area.

Liadh Ní Riada Sinn Féin

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

To ensure a fairer distribution of CAP.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

The changes in the way that LEADER funding is managed and administered will have devastating consequences for rural development programmes.

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

I will campaign for a better deal for our farming and fishing communities. A rural development plan focused on job creation and infrastructure improvements will be a central part of my work as an MEP.

I will also be fighting for the rollout of the 4G broadband network across the entire country, including rural Ireland. Rural Ireland needs to be connected and included too.

Rural Ireland and our Gaeltacht areas have had enough of second-class citizenship. I will fight to protect rural communities and that includes the protection of services such as post offices, local schools, health centres and Garda Stations.

Diarmuid O’Flynn Independent

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

I could take one and two together because the biggest issue facing us all, farming or not, is the lifting of the bank-debt burden. In total it amounts to nearly €70bn, or over €15,000 for every man, woman and child in the country, farming and otherwise. Lift that and Ireland will soar.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

See above.

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

On farming, we have a Minister for Jobs and Enterprise off in the USA this week looking again for FDI, more multinationals, when we have a country that’s ripe for expansion agriculturally and horticulturally. Holland is the size of Munster, has eight times Ireland’s agricultural income – if Richard Bruton had any enterprise himself, he’d be out around the country seeking to build indigenous industry, in agriculture especially.

I also believe there should be strict regulation of prices to farmers, and an end to the monopoly dictatorships of the big retail sector.

Phil Prendergast Labour

What will be the most important farming issue in the next European Parliament?

Finding sustainable solutions to make the European Union self-sufficient when it comes to food production.

What will be the most important non-farming issue affecting rural Ireland in the next European Parliament?

The proposed alignment of local development companies administering LEADER funding with county councils which will lead to the absolute destruction of the successful bottom-up, community-led local development model.

Why should farmers and rural Ireland vote for you?

Currently the connection between Europe and its rural communities is broken and needs to be fixed.

I am absolutely of the opinion that rural Ireland has the capacity to be at the centre of Irish life, however, it will not be able to compete if it does not have the same political and infrastructural tools as cities and towns.

If elected I promise to leave no stone unturned in fighting for more investment and funding which will create a more positive future for farming and rural communities.