Mayo IFA to address farmer concerns at county council meeting today

MAYO IFA chairman John Lynskey will address the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council in Castlebar this afternoon.

It is part of the 'Enough is Enough campaign where farmers across Europe have been voicing their anger and frustration at ever-increasing administrative burdens, which are having a major impact on farm family incomes.

The EU, the Irish government and local government are devising policies far from the farm gate with little or no consideration of the direct impact on farmers, says Mr. Lynskey.

Among the issues at local government level that Mr. Lynskey will be addressing councillors on are delays in the planning process; the implementation of the Zoned Residential Land Tax - all genuinely farmed land must be exempt; clear protocol for council inspections; a strategy to deal with ash dieback on rural roads; lack lack of dog wardens in many counties to deal with dog attacks on sheep flocks; increased water charges and standing charge for multiple connections which should be replaced with one customer charge; allowing the burning of cutaway green waste; that Mayo County Council uphold the right of property owners by adopting fully the use of voluntary land acquisition as opposed to CPO for the construction of greenways; and also the maintenance of rural roads across the county.

Councillors will be asked to adopt the following resolution, that 'Mayo County Council supports the IFA ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign.

'The council recognises the significant contribution that farming and the agri-sector makes to the Irish and local economy. The council acknowledges the income challenge on Irish farmers arising from the significant increases in the cost of doing business, regulatory costs and cuts in Basic Income support for farmers.

'The council calls on the government to introduce no further regulations on farmers or any measures that may increase costs on farms without full negotiation and agreement with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). The council calls on the European Union and the Irish government to provide additional stand-alone funding, separate to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), to support farmers to undertake climate and biodiversity measures.'