‘Government has failed to address farmers’ concerns on Nature Restoration Law’

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Claire

Kerrane has accused the Government of failing to adequately address Irish farmers’ concerns around the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law.

Calling on the Government to support a Sinn Féin amendment to ensure that key concerns are addressed, Deputy Kerrane said: “We know that many in the farming community are concerned about what is being proposed regarding the Nature Restoration Law.

of Heifers

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Friday, 14th July at 11 a.m.

64th Anniversary Special Sale of Bullocks

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Bookings accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, 10th July

Friday, 21st July at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Heifers

Also Dry Cows and Bullocks

Bookings accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, 17th July

Tuesday, 11th July at 4 p.m.

64th Anniversary Sale of Weanlings

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Each Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Stock must be penned by 9.30 a.m. – Gates close at 10 a.m.

Saturday 15th July

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“Sinn Féin’s motion presented the opportunity to discuss what will be the single greatest change to land use in Ireland. The issue however, remains, what will this law actually look like and that is where the Government view is absent, as reflected in their amendment to this motion”.

Kerrane accused the Government and policy makers in Europe of failing to be proactive on developing the Nature Restoration Law.

“They seem oblivious to the need to make sure our family farms and rural communities are at the heart of this issue as part of the process,” she said.

“The initial text on this law, which will be voted on next week, was never going to be acceptable. It ignored land ownership in seeking mandatory re-wetting and it tried to insist on farmers doing more without putting actual adequate funding in place – this was simply unworkable”.

Deputy Kerrane said her party had engaged constructively to develop a law which would work.

“In doing so, we have set out clear red lines which must be included in any Nature Restoration Law, and which I also proposed in the Dáil this week,” she said.

TDs to host public meeting on EU Nature Restoration

Independent TDs Michael Fitzmaurice, Marian Harkin and Michael McNamara will host what they have described as a “significant” public meeting to address the EU’s proposed Nature Restoration Laws.

The meeting, which is due to take place at The Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe this Sunday (9th) at 1 pm, will focus on the specific aspect of land re-wetting.

The meeting will be moderated by Pat O’Toole of the Irish Farmers’ Journal and organisers say it represents an opportunity for rural Ireland to voice its opposition to policies that “endanger their traditional way of life”.

IFA want farm workers on critical skills list

IFA is looking for farm workers to be categorised as critical skills for the purpose of securing work permits.

The Government has announced a review of the list of employers which would be placed on the Critical Skills Occupation List.

IFA President Tim Cullinan said IFA would be making a submission on this important issue.

“Under the current system, if a farmer wants to bring in a non-EU worker, they must apply

“These are ensuring that any activities are voluntary, not mandatory, and that there is public participation in our own national plan from start to finish.

“We need to see permanent funding outside of CAP and a national socioeconomic impact assessment carried out on any measures proposed”. Her party’s amendment, she added, also addresses an issue raised by farmers in the midlands.

“This would require that State bodies are compelled to provide assurances to farmers on adjacent lands that, if rewetting on State lands results in unintended consequences, remedial works will be undertaken. This is only fair and proper,” she said.

“I am calling on the Government to make clear their proposals for ensuring that our family farms are adequately protected and supported”.

Farming Desk

as a ‘production or site manager’ on the critical skills list, which is more costly and has a lot of additional red tape,” he said.

“Often, by the time the process is complete the worker, who must be identified at the beginning of the process, could have taken up work elsewhere. Then the farmer is out of pocket and s/he must start a new application from scratch again,” he said.

The dairy, pig, poultry and horticulture sectors are those most in need of extra workers, Mr Cullinan added.

Government’s real aims on dairy now clear – ICMSA

Commenting on recently announced plans to further reduce Nitrates by 2030, the President of the ICMSA accused the Government of ‘cynical pretence’ around the managed reduction of dairy volumes.

Pat McCormack said that the almost nationwide reduction - taken together with Cow Banding – represents a “twin-attack on the family dairy farm system that built Ireland’s multi-billion euro dairy system”.

Mr McCormack said that the Government’s final unveiling of what he said was obviously “their true intention all along” will rebound on because it will force local politicians and TDs to confront the destructive reality of State policy.

Macra welcomes Minister’s comments on succession proposal

Macra President Elaine Houlihan has welcomed recent comments by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue on the group’s Succession Scheme proposal.

Responding to a question by Ms Houilhan at a recent open day at Moorpark, the Minister said he was looking at the proposal “strongly” and that one of his key objectives is to ensure young farmers can get into farming.

Ms Houlihan, in response, said: “Macra welcomes the Minister’s commitment to strongly look at the Macra succession proposal. Given all the noise at the moment around possible reductions in herd sizes, it is heartening to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel”.