IFA Urges Minister Coveney to Move on Charter of Rights for Farmers

IFA Deputy President Tim O’Leary has called on the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to immediately finalise all outstanding issues for a new Charter of Rights for farmers to coincide with the implementation of all measures under the new CAP. It is now well over a year since discussions commenced on a new Charter and the commitment of the Minister for a New Charter is now been questioned by farmers on the ground, he said.

Tim O’Leary said that that while a number of issues have been sorted including an improved payment schedule for all schemes, nevertheless the main stumbling block is the number of inspections and the issues surrounding no notice inspections. He said IFA is insisting that all farmers should be given at least 48 hours’ notice for all inspections and to separate out those inspections where it is statutorily required to have no notice such as Food , Feed and Animal welfare. He said this is a red line issue for IFA.

The IFA Deputy President said that it would be unacceptable for farmers to have no Charter in place at such a pivotal moment in the implementation of the new CAP. He said Farmers need an improved Charter to protect their interests and to ensure they get fair play.