Addressing the 70th AGM of the IFA in the Irish Farm Centre last Wednesday, IFA President Francie Gorman said 2025 provides the opportunity for farm policy to re-set at national and European level.
The new EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen, addressed the AGM in the Irish Farm Centre on Thursday.
Francie Gorman said the policy programme for the new Government taking over signals that farming and food production will travel on a different path for the next five years.
Instead of trying to shut down farming, there is an acknowledgment that we have a big part to play in this economy.
“It will be our job over the next five years to ensure that the new Government delivers for farmers. Once the full Government line-up is confirmed, we will be engaging with them,” he said.
“The new Government has to find a better way to work with farmers. Whatever the issue, the approach has to be practical, flexible and grounded in common sense. Too often, unnecessary obstacles are being out in front of farmers,” he said.
The three main issues for the Government to work on are the retention of the Nitrates derogation; the blocking of the Mercosur deal; and the shape of the next CAP.
The IFA President said he hoped the engagement with Commissioner Christophe Hansen would kickstart a new relationship that gives due recognition to the role of farmers on the ground.
“To be frank, the last EU Commission became detached from farmers and in many ways detached from reality. It wasn’t prepared to listen to farmers, and it ignored our input.”
“The CAP has to get back to its roots, back farming and be properly funded to do so. At national and EU level, separate funding has to be found for climate action. The days of raiding our CAP funding are over,” he said.
