IFA Response to Govt Package

IFA President Francie Gorman acknowledged the package of measures announced by the Government yesterday is significant. However, there will need to be regular engagement to keep the situation under constant review to ensure the agri-sector is protected in these highly volatile times.

“The Government did not seek the agreement of IFA to this package. The crisis in the Middle East is still extremely volatile, and farmers and agri-contractors are under huge financial pressure.”

“The €100m fuel support scheme is similar to a proposal made by IFA at our meeting with the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris two weeks ago. It is vital that this scheme must be user friendly and flexible to ensure that those who need support get it quickly,” he stated.

“The structure and rollout of this scheme must happen quickly and the Department needs to ensure it is efficient and effective. The concern among farmers and agri-contractors now is that it will be overly bureaucratic and too slow,” he said.

“The Government still needs to address the carbon tax in the next budget. The decision not to apply the increase due in May is the right one, but the whole tax is very unfair and punitive for farmers and rural Ireland,” he said.

“The Government must do far more to address the frustration and anger in rural Ireland, particularly around the cost of doing business and over-regulation,” he said.

“IFA also proposed a fodder scheme and additional support for the tillage sector, and we will continue to pursue these,” he said.

“While we will continue to campaign vigorously on these issues, we must guard against our valid campaigns being used by people with other agendas,” he said.