The draft programme for government positions farming and food production as a "positive force in Irish life" according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA).

The programme, published today (Wednesday, January 15) sets out the intentions of the next coalition Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government supported by the Regional Independent Group (RIG).

It details a number of significant pledges to farm families and the agriculture sector including;

Protecting important farm supports;
Fighting for a strong Common Agricultural Policy (CAP);
Supporting inter-generational farm succession;
Working to secure the retention of the Nitrates Derogation;
Reviewing and updating the National TB 2030 Eradication Strategy;
Defending Irish interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.

According to the president of the ICMSA, Denis Drennan, said these pledges are "encouraging" and demonstrates what he described as an "admirable change in tone" from government in relation to farming and food production.

He said that the ICMSA was also pleased to see the commitments that the next coalition government has made particularly in relation to its opposition to Mercosur and the maintenance of the nitrates derogation and its support of the "potentially game-changing dairy calf to beef sector".

Drennan also highlighted that the organisation strongly welcomes the new coalition government's commitment to "examine a new farm income volatility taxation measure to safeguard farmers from markets rising and falling".

One other key issue that the ICMSA has repeatedly highlighted is on succession and the challenge this poses for many farm families.

According to Drennan the fact the draft programme for government contains a commitment to "ensure a farm succession scheme that supports generational renewal" is also welcome a vital move to get "the next generation of farmers onto their farms and in position to take over what is still the key indigenous economic activity in the state".

But he has also called on the new government to commit to making "measurable progress" towards each of the commitments "by publicly announced dates".

"We must know when we are going to get to these objectives and – more importantly – the civil servants and other policymakers have to made to realise that these are real targets to be hit.

"At least the incoming government seems to be signaling the end of the period where Irish farming was seen by our own government as a necessary evil to be regulated and undermined," he added.

Drennan believes that "there’s a chance now to show how our world-famous dairy and beef sectors are completely sustainable and to be positive about the changes already underway".