Minister for Agriculture engages with local farmers at Dundalk event

Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue TD attends event in Crowne Plaza

Above: Cllr John Sheridan; Senator Erin McGreehan; Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue; Cllr Andrea McKevitt; Cllr Sean Kelly; and Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Conor Keelan. All photos: Ken Finegan/www.newspics.ie

Senator Erin McGreehan hosted an information evening on rural Ireland, farming, and fishing matters, with the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, at the Crowne Plaza in Dundalk last Tuesday evening.

The information evening was seen by the Fianna Fáil senator as an opportunity for people in Louth to engage with Minister McConalogue on the challenges and opportunities facing rural Ireland, farming, and fishing, and she says says she is committed to providing a platform for voices from rural communities.

There were a wide range of topics covered on the night from members of Louth Fianna Fáil, members of the public and many members of Louth IFA.

Topics that were covered included, the stress that sheep farmers across the county say they are under with the reduction of the price for lamb, the lack of market for sheep wool, the increasing cost of production and continuous level of disrespect that some dog owners have towards their stock.

Above: Danny O'Shea (right), Chairman of the CDC; with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue; and Senator Erin McGreehan

Sheep worrying and killing was discussed at the meeting with calls for the Department of Agriculture to implement tougher dog control legislation.

Concerns were also raised on the purchasing power exercised by the supermarket multiples. This was seen to be having a detrimental effect on prices in the industry.

The Minister outlined the powers that the new regulator would have in this area and was hopeful that a level playing pitch would be achieved.