The forgotten farmers, broken promises and ticking clocks
Dear Sir,
Back in 2007 to 2008 farmers were first encouraged to work towards gaining a Green Cert. This promised advantages to the holder and in particular meant that successful applicants would be recognised as farmers for the purposes of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture.
At the time there was a promised grant of €15,000 to help cover the costs and encourage a decent take up but with a change of government and Fine Gael taking office, the first promise was broken and the grant was reduced to €5000.
Despite reducing the grant to 1/3rd of it's original value and despite numerous promises to pay this reduced amount 17 years have passed and yet again promises have been broken, farmers have been forgotten and payments have not been made.
Like everyone in our communities farmers have been hit with ever increasing costs but they have also had to deal with appalling weather, numerous cuts to various support schemes and these broken promises as daily they struggle to keep their farms viable.
This is true for all farmers it's particularly so for the smaller farmer who lacks the resources that bigger enterprises can fall back on.
When our current Minister for Agriculture, Charles McConalogue took office he made further promises that these payments would be at the top of his list, that they would be a priority and that the 5000 farmers waiting for payment would not have to wait much longer.
Obviously these promises have failed to produce any action, the
5,000 farmers have been forgotten again and now we have a change of Taoiseach, another leader of the country elected by a few TD's ratherthan the people, who may well decide to make his mark with a cabinet reshuffle.
The clock is ticking and if these payments are not actioned now, without further delay, then events might yet again overtake them and the issue of payments fall to a new minister and a new series of delays.
Our coalition government seems to have no problem turning its back on
farmers and the rural communities that they are an essential part of, no problem reneging on promise after promise and no problem instigating further cuts.
I am asking Minister McConalogue, on behalf of all the forgotten farmers
Donal O’Connor
Sinn Féin Local Candidate
Ballymote Tubbercurry LEA
Election