by Kate Heaney
Local members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) addressed the Plenary meeting of Donegal County Council last Monday asking the members to support their ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign.
Following a detailed presentation on 12 major issues which are causing difficulties for farmers, Donegal IFA Chair Joe Sweeney requested the local authority to do their utmost to highlight the issues raised, and seek a fundamental reset of how farm policy is devised and implemented both at the EU and in Ireland.
They also requested that the council write to the President of the EU Commission, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture advising them that the council has passed the following resolution.
It read: “Donegal County Council supports the IFA ‘enough is enough’ campaign. The Council recognises the significant contribution that farming, and the Agri-sector makes to the Irish and local economy. The Council acknowledges the income challenge on Irish farmers arising from the significant increases in the cost of doing business, regulatory costs and cuts in Basic Income support for farmers.
“The Council calls on the Government to introduce no further regulations on farmers or any measures that may increase costs on farms without full negotiation and agreement with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). The Council calls on the European Union and the Irish Government to provide additional stand-alone funding, separate to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), to support farmers to undertake climate and biodiversity measures.”
Adrian Gallagher of the Sheep Farmers’ Association called for all dogs in the county to be chipped. He also questioned how many dog licenses had been issued. He pointed out that the proper licensing and chipping of dogs would be self-financing.
Mr Gallagher also warned members that sheep wool would be ending up in council bins as farmers are getting just five cent a kilo.
“Why not use it in house insulation the same way they do in Scotland?” he asked.
IFA Regional Chair told members there were 16,000 people employed full-time in farming in Donegal.
“We are the most important industry in this county and are hands are being tied,” Mr Brady added.
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