No Negotiations Have Taken Place Between IFA and Bord Bia on New Sustainability Programme

Responding to media reports today, IFA President Tim Cullinan said there has been no negotiations between IFA and Bord Bia on any ‘new farm sustainability programme’.

“No proposals have even been put to IFA,” he said.

“I want to make it very clear: if Bord Bia and other agencies are cooking up a scheme to impose more bureaucracy and costs on farmers, it will be rejected by IFA,” he said.

“Farmers are sick and tired of being asked to do more and more for less and less” he said.

“IFA has always tried to work constructively with Bord Bia, but flying kites in the media is not the way to do business. At this time more than ever, Bord Bia needs to be fully focused on finding markets which are capable of paying viable prices for Irish food as a matter of urgency, not dreaming up schemes,” he said.