Farmers 'can’t go on lurching from crisis to crisis’ - Limerick ICMSA chair

CHAIR of Limerick ICMSA Jimmy O’Donnell said that the extent of the pressures being exerted on farmers by what he termed the high costs versus low-income ‘financial hammer’ led to last week’s fuel protests and blockades, and “the threat it represented had finally dawned on the Government”.  

The Kilmallock farmer said: “Obviously, we’ll all have to withhold final judgement until we see the full details of the package publicly announced, and specifically, how that will impact farmers. 

“Farmers still feel incredibly frustrated – and justifiably so – that this ‘financial hammer’ and regulatory burden that was falling on them was there for all to see, but it still didn’t seem to register with the Government.” 

READ NEXT: Top of the class: Two Limerick Agricultural Science students in Cork awarded Dairygold bursaries

Mr O’Donnell said the Government seemed to think that they could leave it alone and it would all just work itself out. 

“That was never a real option – certainly not for ICMSA – and the Government’s approach to the agri sector and farming, specifically, needs to change radically.

"We just can’t go on like this: lurching from crisis to crisis, whether it be plunging milk price, uncertainty over Mercosur and the Nitrates Derogation and an ever-increasing regulatory burden, and the resultant emergency over succession where we can’t get young people to commit to farming as a career.  

“Last week the whole sector was effectively on the point of seizing-up completely; farmers would have been better off financially by not doing anything.

"At least then, they wouldn’t be working every day and losing money every day. We can’t go on like that, there needs to be a change, and it has to come quickly,” said Mr O’Donnell.

Meanwhile, IFA President Francie Gorman acknowledged the package of measures announced by the Government is “significant”.

However, he said there will need to be regular engagement to keep the situation under constant review to ensure the agri-sector is protected in these highly volatile times.

“The Government did not seek the agreement of IFA to this package. The crisis in the Middle East is still extremely volatile, and farmers and agri-contractors are under huge financial pressure.”

“The €100m fuel support scheme is similar to a proposal made by IFA at our meeting with the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris two weeks ago. It is vital that this scheme must be user friendly and flexible to ensure that those who need support get it quickly,” he stated.

“The structure and rollout of this scheme must happen quickly and the Department needs to ensure it is efficient and effective. The concern among farmers and agri-contractors now is that it will be overly bureaucratic and too slow.”

Mr Gorman said the Government still needs to address the carbon tax in the next budget. 

“The decision not to apply the increase due in May is the right one, but the whole tax is very unfair and punitive for farmers and rural Ireland.

“The Government must do far more to address the frustration and anger in rural Ireland, particularly around the cost of doing business and over-regulation.

“IFA also proposed a fodder scheme and additional support for the tillage sector, and we will continue to pursue these,” he said.

Mr Gorman concluded by saying” while we will continue to campaign vigorously on these issues, we must guard against our valid campaigns being used by people with other agendas”.