Leaders of Main Political Parties to Address IFA National Council

The leaders of the main political parties will address the National Council of the IFA in the Irish Farm Centre tomorrow as part of the General Election campaign.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will address members at 11am, followed by Fine Gael leader Simon Harris at 12.30pm. The leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald will address the IFA National Council at 4pm.

IFA President Francie Gorman said it will be a valuable interaction between the main party leaders and members of the IFA National Council.

He said it’s very important that those in the mix to be Taoiseach in the next Government would hear the views of our county and commodity chairs.

“We have prepared a detailed submission to the political parties and candidates, setting out the issues that matter to farm families. Tomorrow’s meeting will allow us to discuss these in detail with the main party leaders and question them on what they will do if they are part of the next Government,” he said.

Francie Gorman said IFA officers around the country will mobilise over the next three weeks to engage with political parties and candidates on the key asks in our submission. Read in full here.

They have been summarised into the acronym CENTRAL, representing CAP; environment scheme ACRES; Nitrates derogation; trade deals; regulation; additional funding for vulnerable sectors; and land tax.