Call for halt to planned HSA inspections "blitz"

IFA President Francie Gorman said that the HSA's recently announced plan for a 'blitz of farm inspections' is tone-deaf given the enormous challenges facing the sector.

"We need all planned inspections to be suspended in the context of the deplorable weather conditions on farms. Now we have the HSA announcing a ‘blitz' of additional farm inspections," Francie Gorman said.

"I spoke to Minister Hayden, who was quoted in the press release yesterday evening, and made it clear that these inspections cannot proceed, as they would be counterproductive regarding health and safety and farmer welfare," he said.

"The pressure on farmers is unprecedented, the IFA President said.

"The Minister needs to convene another meeting of the fodder group this week and given how serious the situation is now he must attend this himself," he said.

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) are also calling for a pause in all farm inspections as farmers struggle to cope with difficult weather conditions.

National Vice President John Joe Fitzgerald said farmers are under enormous pressure and this is something all State Bodies need to take into consideration.

Across all sectors of farming the unrelenting rainfall is taking a toll.

He said this can be seen through increased costs, heightened stress levels and a never increasing workload that has left many farmers exhausted.

“Unfortunately, with no improvement in the weather forecast these concerns will remain and this is why it is vital that we don't add to them through inspections that could be deferred until the weather improves and farmers are in a better place” he said.

While Department of Agriculture inspections are the main inspection farmers could be facing, Fitzgerald detailed how “any pause should also include all State Bodies such as County Councils, National Parks and Wildlife Services, Environmental Protection Agency.”