ICMSA Briefing Document for 2019 European Parliament and Local Government Elections

 

Introduction
Farming in Ireland is always changing and adapting to
opportunities and challenges, but the sector has rarely, if
ever, experienced as much uncertainty as that which
currently prevails. e last year has seen three major issues
come to the fore at national and international level, any one
of which, on their own, has the potential to shape for good
or bad the very future of Irish agriculture but coming
together, as they are, ICMSA does not exaggerate when we
say that they will determine the future of Irish farming and
the dependent wider rural economy and society. Brexit,
CAP Post 2020 and Climate Change either taken on their own or as a package
will decide whether we will have a rural economy at all.
e Irish economy continues to perform well with strong economic growth and
employment levels but there is a clear issue with the vulnerability of the rural
economy. Brexit, now extended to the end of October, remains a very serious
threat and is directly impacting on farmers’ incomes since the second half of 2018
– supports must be introduced immediately to address that fact. e day after

the Referendum, Ireland had two strategic priorities: firstly, to prevent the re-
introduction of border infrastructure and secondly, to work towards a post Brexit

trading regime with our key British market that would be as close to the present
arrangements as possible.
Recent developments and extensions notwithstanding, it is apparent that neither
of these objectives has been categorically secured. It is difficult to exaggerate the
negative implications for the whole economy and very specifically, the Agri-Food
sector in the event of a No Deal or ‘Hard’ Brexit.
CAP is the key EU policy to support farmers. e Commission proposal is a for
a substantial reduction in the CAP. Ireland must ensure that the current CAP
budget is at least maintained and that the supports under CAP must be targeted
to farmers who are making an economic contribution to their local economy and
the national economy. e regulations surrounding CAP must be simplified and
reflect the practical realities of farming in Ireland.
Climate Change and the ongoing challenges arising from it are now ‘front and
centre’ in daily discourse. Farmers are being unfairly targeted in this debate by
certain vested interests and Irish agriculture can play a very positive role in
addressing climate change if appropriate policies are adopted. ICMSA believes

ICMSA – The Family Farm Organisation

in, and will work towards, a model that sees farmers as part of the solution.
Global population is growing and accordingly, demand for food is growing.
Ireland is one of the most carbon-efficient producers of dairy and beef on the
planet and thus should be supported by all those campaigning for reductions in
global emissions. It is completely illogical to reduce production of food in
carbon-efficient systems and switch that production to other more
environmentally damaging producers. If this is a global problem – and it is – then
the solution must take a global approach and produce food where it is most
carbon efficient to do so. e latest fashion of encouraging people to reduce
consumption of meat and dairy is a frivolous and superficial tactic. ere are
many benefits to eating meat and dairy and both should be consumed as part of
a balanced diet.
Whether it is milk and beef prices or local issues, ICMSA’s remit it to identify
the interests of farm families and their rural communities and then advocate
policies that will sustainably develop family farms and rural communities. I would
therefore ask you all to study the following key policy issues and request every
candidate who approaches you over the next number of weeks to respond and
support these specific points.

ICMSA – The Family Farm Organisation

ICMSA is allied to several dairy farmer organisations throughout the EU and we lobby MEPs and the
Commission for farm family-friendly policies.

 

ICMSA Briefing Document for 2019 European Parliament and Local Government Elections

Also read

ROAD CLOSURE L4109 KILROSS CROSS TO MOOREABBEY