IFA President Looking Forward to Working with New Minister for Agriculture

IFA President Francie Gorman said he’s looking forward to working with the new Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

Francie Gorman said he had been in contact with the Minister already to wish him well in his new role.

“Obviously, moving from the Minister of State role to full Minister is a step up, but he has the advantage of an understanding of the issues that he’s facing,” he said.

The IFA President said the Minister has a number of urgent items that will require his attention straightaway.

“I referenced some of those issues in my AGM speech on Wednesday, in particular the Mercosur trade deal; the retention of the Nitrates derogation; and a solution for farmers on peat soils in relation to GAEC 2.”

Francie Gorman also wished Taoiseach Micheál Martin well as he takes up the office for a second time.

“The Programme for Government signals a re-set of the approach to farming and in IFA we will be working with the Government to make sure the policy direction is practical and works for farmers,” he said.

Concluding, the IFA President thanked former Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue for his engagement and commitment during his time in Agriculture House.