On Monday, 25th August, INHFA president Vincent Roddy and vice-president John Joe Fitzgerald attended a meeting at government buildings with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.
Speaking after the meeting, Vice President John Joe Fitzgerald detailed how many issues were covered in what he described as “a very constructive meeting.”
Through discussions at the meeting, the following issues were addressed
New CAP POST 2027 and its implications on the survival of the family farm, where the INHFA president stressed the need for “commitments from Government to make up any shortfall in the new CAP budget and ensure Irish farmers can maintain and hopefully improve on existing levels of support.”
Mercosur Trade Deal and the devastating effects this deal will have on the Irish Suckler Beef. On this, Vice-President Fitzgerald questioned the EU commission’s intent, stating, “how they seem hell bent on getting a deal at any cost.”
Land Designations and the 2023 ECJ ruling on SAC designations. Here, Roddy stressed the need “for clarity on this as the European Court of Justice ruling could have clear implications for the Nitrates derogation, considering this will be tied to the habitats directive.” However, beyond the nitrates derogation, the INHFA president stated, “how farmers on SAC lands need to be given legal clarity on where the SAC designation now stands.
Nature Restoration law and its implications on farming and rural communities. On this, the INHFA questioned the overall ambition and how they could deliver a Rolls-Royce plan on a Lada budget while also detailing concerns around the mirror measures included in the plan. Here, Roddy maintained that this could be used by non-EU countries to undermine beef and other food products produced on drained peatlands.
Rural housing and the very negative effect this is having on family farm members who are choosing to emigrate and not to return, as they cannot afford to build a house in rural Ireland anymore with the INHFA vice-president asking “if we are the last generation of farmers that can afford to build a house on our farms”. He also highlighted the issues around Planning.
Dog Control this was also an issue covered by Vice-President Fitzgerald, who outlined details of the INHFA petition to the EU Parliament and emphasised the need to see “strong action from Government to address what is a growing concern with all farmers and especially. those on the hill.” A presentation of the petition and book of evidence was made to the Tánaiste and Minister by the INHFA representatives at the end of the meeting
In conclusion, Fitzgerald maintained that “while the meeting was quite constructive, we do need to see action on the points covered and also progress on additional points made in our budget submission.”