Assurances sought to protect farmers in government talks

THE value of farming to the local economy and environment at this time of crisis with the Covid-19 pandemic was spelt out at a meeting of Mayo County Council.

The world is at a standstill, but farmers are working hard at one of their busiest times of the year, and it was interesting to note that pollution is coming down, said Councillor Johnny O'Malley.

Out of everything comes something good, he commented, and the air is cleaner, and the water, and the earth was 'healing itself by the hour'.

Farming is always looked at as the polluter, with 'cows farting', but at this busiest of times, one only saw a drop in pollution.

Councillor O'Malley said he had predicted that some day we would have an epidemic and that we should support our local farmers as while we have them 'no one will go hungry'.

He hoped people would stick with their local butchers, etc., once this was all over.

Councillor Jarlath Munnelly proposed a resolution, to be sent to the leaders of the government formation negotiating teams, for protection for farmers and rural Ireland.

Many remarks have been made in public discourse since the election that, if implemented, would damage rural Ireland, he said.

The sector that most needed to be protected in Mayo right now is agriculture, he added, the back bone of rural Mayo.

Under Councillor Munnelly's proposal, the members of Mayo County Council are seeking assurances by the parties involved in government formation talks that any programme for government will include the following four points:

No changes or restrictions to live exports of cattle.

No retrograde changes to the nitrates directive.

No cuts to the national herd.

And no changes that will impact adversely on rural planning for rural and farming families.