Tim Cullinan, the president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has been elected as the vice president of one of Europe’s largest farming organisations.
Cullinan topped the poll of seven candidates to become the president of COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations), in an election which took place today (Friday, September 18) in Brussels.
Cullinan will take over the role from former IFA president Joe Healy, whose term in the role concludes today.
At today’s meeting, Cullinan highlighted the “priority of achieving fair conditions for farmers in order to earn a fair income”.
He also underlined the challenges that farmers have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the increasing targets and demands being put on farmers.
On the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Cullinan said he would “continue to make a strong case for the highest level of funding for farmers”, while on Brexit, he said he would seek the support of other farm organisations for Irish farmers in the event of ‘no-deal’.
I look forward to working with Christine Lambert and the other members of the presidency team who were elected today.
Cullinan also thanked Healy for his term as COPA vice-president, saying: “I want to thank Joe for his contribution to COPA on behalf of IFA.”