President of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Joe Healy has been elected a vice president of the European farm organisation, COPA this morning in Brussels.
Healy was elected as one of six vice presidents to serve with new COPA President, Joachim Rukwied, from the German Farmers’ Association. Healy topped the poll among the seven candidates.
Speaking following his election, Healy said he had sought the position to ensure a strong voice for Irish farmers at a time when a number of very important issues are live at European level.
“There are a number of crucial issues for Irish agriculture currently on the agenda, such as Brexit, the Mercosur trade deal and glyphosate licencing.
I aim to work with our European colleagues to see farmers receive a fair share of retail prices.
“There are also medium term issues such as the review of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) and the increasing challenges arising from climate change. These are issues which will impact directly of the incomes of Irish farmers.
“I look forward to working with the new President of COPA, Joachim Rukwied and the other vice presidents to ensure that the farmer’s voice is heard on these and other issues,” Healy said.
Healy was re-elected unopposed to serve a second term as President of the IFA last week.
The IFA’s Deputy President, Richard Kennedy, was also returned unopposed following the announcement.
Meanwhile, former Chairman of Wicklow IFA, Tom Short, was nominated unchallenged for the position of the IFA’s South Leinster Regional Chairman.
He is set to succeed James Murphy, who will complete his second term at the January 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Both the IFA’s Munster Regional Chairman, John Coughlan, and the organisation’s Connacht Regional Chairman, Padraic Joyce, were nominated and returned unopposed.