‘EU has lost touch with farmers’ – ICSA’s Punch to run for Europe
ICSA General Secretary Eddie Punch will run in the upcoming European elections.
The Clare man, who has worked for 25 years at the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) confirmed to the Farming Independent yesterday that he will run as an independent candidate in the elections to vote in Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) this June.
According to Punch, “never before has the farming community needed strong, committed and knowledgeable representation more than now”.
Experience
He said: “I have years of experience lobbying for farmers in Brussels and I have negotiated with every EU farm commissioner since Franz Fischler in 2003. Now I want to put that experience to use for the constituents of Ireland South.”
Mr Punch has given notice to ICSA that he will step down as general secretary after 25 years in the role with a view to winning a seat.
“This is not just about farmers — this is about all of the people whose lives and economic well-being is linked to the success of our agri-food sector,” he said.
“This is about the choice of European consumers to have high quality nutrition delivered by the family farm model. This is about Ireland’s vital national interests, of which our farming sector is a key component.”
Punch said his campaign will not be solely about food and agriculture.
“I believe passionately that our country needs to be successful in every county and that balanced regional development is more critical than ever before.
“Instead of Dublin Airport expanding, I want to see the right balance between Dublin and the regions, and I want to see more access for Shannon, Cork and Farranfore airports.
“I have seen first hand the pressure that farmers and small businesses are being put under by more and more red tape and regulation. I believe that the EU institutions have lost touch with the impact of their grandiose plans on the people on the ground, who are expected to implement them.
Frustrated
“I believe that the way forward must be for the EU to slow down and listen and respect the ordinary people on the ground and understand why they are so frustrated. The Nitrates Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Nature Restoration Law are but three examples of why our farmers are at breaking point.”
Punch will be running in the South constituency, which is a five-seater, where he will face political stalwarts, including Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher and Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly, along with Independent Mick Wallace.