Approximately 300 people gathered in the South Court Hotel, Limerick, tonight, Monday, October 21, for the first Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) presidential debate.

The three presidential candidates – John Coughlan, Tim Cullinan and Angus Woods – all put forward their pitches on why they believe they should be the next IFA president.

Candidates were asked a number of questions from the floor on their position on issues such as the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM), CAP, climate change and derogation.

One speaker from the floor made the point that whichever candidate becomes president “will be at a crossroads in the IFA”.

The next president is either going to make or break the IFA.

“Farmers need the right to protest and negotiate a price for their produce,” the speaker outlined.

Concluding, the speaker from the floor said: “Rural Ireland is finished without the IFA. There’s two organisations in rural Ireland at the moment and the rest is finished; there’s the GAA in every parish and there’s the IFA.”

Designated lands

One topic of interest on the night was the presidential candidates’ views on designated lands.

Coughlan

John Coughlan outlined that any designation on any land has “got to be compensated for”.

He added: “Designations are put in place to protect the good of everybody, not just the farmer.”

Woods

Angus Woods took a similar view to Coughlan and outlined that compensation as the main issue.

Commenting on designated lands, he outlined: “We can’t have designation without compensation.”

Cullinan

However, Cullinan took a different approach and noted that designated lands “need to be freed up” so farmers who own the land have the option of planting trees on it.

He added: “There’s no point in planting good farmland when we have designated land lying fallow at the moment and nothing can be done with it.”

The event drew to a close at approximately 11:45pm and the candidates will all be attending the Kerry debate in the Rose Hotel, Tralee, tomorrow, Tuesday, October 22.