Mayo meeting as IFA say elections an opportunity to tackle over-regulation and low incomes

AHEAD of the European and local elections in June, the Irish Farmers’ Association has highlighted nine key issues for candidates if they want to win the farming vote.

A series of regional meetings are also planned, including one in Mayo on May 2 in Claremorris.

“It is time for the political system to stand up for farming and food production. As farmers, we are proud of what we do and how we do it. Farmers are sick of being over-regulated and underpaid. Enough is enough,” said IFA president Francie Gorman.

Launching the manifesto for the European Parliament and local government elections on June 7, Mr. Gorman said it has identified nine issues using the acronym CORE for the four key European priorities and PLACE for the five top local election issues.

“There are hundreds of issues dealt with in our manifesto across all commodities. However, we have distilled the issues down to nine key messages,” he said.

The CORE EU issues are: CAP, Over-Regulation, Retain the Nitrates Derogation and Environmental fairness.

The PLACE local elections issues are: Planning, Land Tax on Zoned Residential land, Ash dieback on local roads, Connectivity and Environmental inspections by local authorities.

“Farmers are frustrated with how they have been treated by the political system in recent years.

“There has been a complete focus on environmental sustainability, but insufficient consideration for economic and social sustainability,” he said.

“Candidates who want an understanding of what matters to farmers can find our issues in the manifesto that we have produced. It reflects the discussions that happen at our county executives, our national committees and national council, which is made up of our democratically-elected farmer officers,” he said.

REGIONAL MEETINGS

The IFA is holding four regional meetings in April and May, which will give farmers the opportunity to hear from the candidates running in the European Parliament elections.

The first meeting for Ireland South will be in Cork Marts in Fermoy on Tuesday, April 30, followed by the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris on Thursday, May 2, for the Midlands North-West constituency.

Gowran Park Racecourse will host a second meeting for Ireland South on May 7, followed by a second meeting for Midlands North-West in the Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, on Wednesday, May 8.