HSA Inspections “Blitz” Must Be Halted
IFA President Francie Gorman said that the HSA’s plan for a ‘blitz of farm inspections’ in the coming weeks, as announced in a press release yesterday, is tone-deaf given the enormous challenges facing the sector.
“We need all planned inspections to be suspended in the context of the deplorable weather conditions on farms. Now we have the HSA announcing a ‘blitz’ of additional farm inspections,” Francie Gorman said.
“I spoke to Minister Hayden, who was quoted in the press release yesterday evening, and made it clear that these inspections cannot proceed, as they would be counterproductive regarding health and safety and farmer welfare,” he said.
“The pressure on farmers is unprecedented, with terrible weather forecast for the next week,” the IFA President said.
“The Minister needs to convene another meeting of the fodder group this week and given how serious the situation is now he must attend this himself,” he said.
