FG and FF facing a rural revolt over coalition deal with Greens

Independent TDs warn of ‘venomous’ backlash

Margaret Donnelly & Ciaran Moran

FIANNA FÁIL and Fine Gael have been warned they will face “venomous” opposition in rural Ireland should they give in to Green Party demands that may lead to cuts to the national herd.

The Greens are demanding a 7pc reduction in the country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, in return for agreeing a deal to go into a coalition government.

Green TD Roderic O’Gorman said over the weekend “there will have to be some reduction in the national herd”, but the party’s agriculture spokesperson Pippa Hackett told the Farming Independent yesterday that reducing the national herd was not a ‘specific’ Green Party policy.

However, she admitted that it cannot be ignored as a possibility and something that may need to be implemented.

“When we see what happened in the Netherlands in relation to phosphate levels, it might well be something that is imposed on us from an EU level, if we do not address the emissions issue from this section,” she said.

“Many Irish farmers are having to run faster and faster to stand still, so we need to get off that treadmill and embrace a better farming model, with a brighter future. I think most farmers would agree with that.”

However, the Green demands have already sparked a strong reaction from farm organisations and rural TDs.

Roscommon-Galway Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice said: “If the inclusion of the Green Party is going to decimate Irish agriculture and the main parties decide to sell us out for the sake of power or jobs, then we in rural Ireland will have to rally together to oppose this venomously.”