IFA see upcoming elections an opportunity to tackle key issues for farmers

IFA President Francie Gorman and IFA Director of Governance and Oireachtas Engagement Elaine Farrell launching IFA’s Manifesto for the European Parliament and local government elections in June.

AHEAD of the European and local elections in June, the Irish Farmers’ Association has highlighted nine key issues for candidates if they want to win the farming vote.

“It is time for the political system to stand up for farming and food production. As farmers, we are proud of what we do and how we do it. Farmers are sick of being over-regulated and underpaid. Enough is enough,” he said.

Launching their manifesto for the European Parliament and local government elections on June 7, IFA President Francie Gorman said it has identified nine issues using the acronym CORE for the four key European priorities and PLACE for the five top local election issues.

“There are hundreds of issues dealt with in our manifesto across all commodities. However, we have distilled the issues down to nine key messages,” he said.

The CORE EU issues are: CAP, Over Regulation, Retain the Nitrates Derogation and Environmental fairness.

The PLACE local elections issues are: Planning, Land Tax on Zoned Residential land, Ash dieback on local roads, Connectivity and Environmental inspections by local authorities.

“Farmers are frustrated with how they have been treated by the political system in recent years. There has been a complete focus on environmental sustainability, but insufficient consideration for economic and social sustainability,” he said.

“Candidates who want an understanding of what matters to farmers can find our issues in the manifesto that we have produced. It reflects the discussions that happen at our County Executives, our National Committees and National Council, which is made up of our democratically elected farmer officers,” he said.

IFA will be holding four regional meetings in the coming weeks, which will give farmers the opportunity to hear from the candidates running in the European Parliament elections.

The first meeting for Ireland South will be in Cork Marts in Fermoy on Tues, Apr 30, followed by the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris on Thurs, May 2nd for the Midlands-North West constituency. Gowran Park Racecourse will host a second meeting for Ireland South on Tues, May 7, followed by a second meeting for MidlandsNorth West in the Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar on Wednesday, May 8.