Gorman: 'New government has to find a better way to work with farmers'
The "new government has to find a better way to work with farmers", Francie Gorman, the president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), warned at the organisation's 70th annual general meeting (AGM) in Dublin today (Wednesday, January 22).
Gorman outlined that the three key issues for the new government to "work on" is the "retention of the nitrates derogation, the blocking of the Mercosur deal and the shape of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)".
He also took the opportunity to highlight what he described as the "obstacles" that had been "put in front of farmers" previously, including the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) - "a potentially good scheme undone by its own terms and conditions".
The IFA president addressed the AGM as political leaders returned to the Dáil today to elect a new Taoiseach and form the next government.
He pledged that "once the full government line-up is confirmed later today, we will be engaging with them and we will hold them to account".
"It will be our job over the next five years to ensure that the new government delivers forfarmers," the IFA president added.
But he said that this would be against the backdrop of "real and present threats on the horizon" - not least in relation to animal health risks from the persistent problem of bovine TB and bluetongue.
In his address at the 70th AGM, Gorman also said that in the programme for government political leaders had signaled a "change of direction" in relation to agriculture.
"Instead of trying to shut down farming there is an acknowledgment that we have a big part to play in this economy," he stated.
According to the IFA president, farmers "are making progress in meeting our emissions targets" and warned that "reducing emissions by reducing production" would be a "big folly".
But Gorman cautioned that "the shape of farming in 2030 and beyond will be determined in large part by the actions" of not just the new government but also the new European Commission.
"Whether it’s the work of the new EU Commission or the new government that takesover today, we need a new deal for farmers.
"A deal that recognises and rewards those who are doing the work. We have a huge challenge to attract the next generation of farmers.
"But we must start by securing the current generation. We need incentives to encourage new people into farming," he urged.
The new European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, will also address the IFA's AGM tomorrow in Dublin.
Ahead of Hansen's visit to Ireland, Gorman was clear that, in his opinion, the "last EU Commission became detached from farmers and in many ways detached from reality".
"It wasn’t prepared to listen to farmers and it ignored our input.
"The CAP has to get back to its roots, support food production, and be properly funded to do so. At national and EU level, separate funding has to be found for climate action.
"The days of raiding our CAP funding must come to an end," he added.
One other political development that the IFA president also reflected on during his address today at the IFA AGM was on the return of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States.
"President Donald Trump has been very vocal in his comments regarding tariffs on international goods.
"These could do serious damage to Irish farming. Every diplomatic effort must be madeto avoid damaging tariffs being introduced on Irish exports," Gorman said.
Additional reporting by Breifne O’Brien
