The National Environment & Rural Affairs Committee is committed to removing unnecessary and excessive bureaucracy being imposed on farmers.  As National Chairman, I will work with Government, State Agencies, key stakeholders and IFA Officers to:

• Create a greater understanding of the fact that farmers -
  • In recent years have spent over €2.5bn ensuring that their farms conform to the highest environmental standards.
  • Have the most emission efficient food production system in Europe, because of our grass based production system.
• Resist any efforts to introduce excessive and unworkable climate change legislation, which would limit the growth potential of the agri-food sector.
• Negotiate with the Departments of Agriculture and Environment to achieve the workable implementation of the land improvement regulation.
• Resist further unjustifiable charges being imposed on rural dwellers, such as septic tank charges and proposed water abstraction charges.
• Seek realistic REFIT tariffs that will make micro-wind energy a viable proposal.
• Negotiate with the Department of Transport and the RSA, and secure workable weights when using agricultural vehicles on public roads.
• Seek a more workable solution to the on-going farming by date and slurry spreading difficulties.

About the Chairman.