ICSA seeking better deal for farmers
The ICSA (Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers' Association) held a public meeting in The Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown on Wednesday, 16th March. Contributors on the night included Eddie Punch, Pat Barron, Niall Desmond, Denis O'Callaghan, Dermot Kelleher (ICSA president) and Cllr. Frank Roche. Speaking to The
Avondhu following the meeting Cllr. Roche said the meeting had been a 'useful exercise'.
"Farmers have a huge amount of problems, I've tried to focus on the mealth health issues facing farmers. I brought that up tonight and outlined the issues as I see them, basically, farmers, especially those who farm on their own, need more help and backup, loneliness is a huge factor out there," Cllr. Roche said.
ICSA President, Dermot Kelleher said the meeting was important given the rising costs associated with farmers. He also spoke to The
Avondhu.
"Look, it would have been better to have a larger crowd, however, I still think we covered a lot of ground and hopefully we can engage more farmers as we go along. We had a massive crowd at a meeting in west Cork last week, so the interest is there," he said.
RISING COSTS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH ADMINISTRATION
Mr Kelleher told the meeting that hundreds of Irish farmers were on the brink of going out of business. He blamed bureaucracy and penalties associated with 'genuine mistakes' in filling out forms as the root cause.
"You make the smallest of mistakes and you are docked thousands (of euro), it's very unfair, and something I don't accept or understand," he said.
NED ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL
An interested observer was former Minister of State, Ned O'Keeffe from Ballindangan. Mr O'Keeffe said farmers had to keep fighting if they wanted to be heard. With regard to the topic of food security, it was time, he said, for Irish farmers to start growing wheat.
"This was done in the 1940s and will have to be done again. I accept not all farm land is suitable, however, you have land from Castletownroche to Mallow that would be ideal, we must get wheat in the ground and do it as soon as possible if we want to prevent major food shortages," he said.