IFA Meet Taoiseach to Drive Home Key Farming Messages

An IFA delegation led by Deputy President Brian Rushe met with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday evening to discuss issues of concern to farmers.

The main issue discussed was the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law and its implications for farmers.

Speaking after the meeting, Brian Rushe said the meeting had been a good opportunity to press home a number of points IFA has been campaigning on.

“We acknowledged the Taoiseach’s comments relaying his concerns about the proposed law. However, we were clear that the Government must oppose the proposal and ensure a full impact assessment is done before any law is put in place,” he said.

We also raised the issue of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and queried why this cannot be used to assist vulnerable sectors such as beef, sheep, tillage and horticulture, which have clearly been hit by the consequences of Brexit.

“It will be a major own goal if this funding is not spent before the deadline of December 31st, 2023,” he said.

“We were also clear with the Taoiseach that the Department of Agriculture’s plan to delay certain payments by up to a month in 2023 would be totally unacceptable,” he said.

“We also raised the need retain the Nitrates derogation at 250kgs; the problems with the Residential Zoned Land Tax; a number of other climate-related matters; and the need for a proper succession scheme in farming,” he said.