An Irish contractor has been voted onto the new board of CEETTAR, the European Confederation of Agricultural, Rural and Forestry Contractors.

Richie White of Slievenamon Agri Services in Co. Tipperary joins the board.

White is the current national secretary of the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) and has been a member since its foundation.

Established in 1961, CEETTAR is present in 14 different countries in Europe and represents about 150,000 companies and nearly 600,000 workers.

CEETTAR aims to represent the interests of its members (land-based contractors in Europe) towards EU politicians and bodies and associations that impact its sectors.

White has been involved with CEETTAR since 2013, when FCI were first invited to present on the issues facing contractors in Ireland as a result of the financial crash.

White was elected this month onto the new nine-person board of CEETTAR at its annual general meeting, which was held in the Netherlands at the headquarters of CUMELA, the Dutch rural contractors’ association.

Contractors

Slievenamon Agri Services is about to celebrate its 30th year in business.

White acknowledged that his contribution to the sector on a policy level, both nationally and internationally, is only possible thanks to his two younger brothers, John and Martin, and his late father, Pat, who operated a modest contracting operation in comparison to the 10 full-time and three part-time staff that his sons employ in Tipperary.

White also thanked his wife Bridget for her dedication and support.

White said: "The regulations that affect contractors in Ireland are made in Brussels about five years before they actually start affecting the contractors on the ground.

"To have an FCI representative on the board of CEETTAR is a significant step for Irish farm and forestry contractors; we now have a direct voice to the most influential lobbying organisation in Europe for our sector.

FCI managing director Ann Gleeson Hanrahan said the association has "worked very hard to forge meaningful lines of communication with key decision makers in Ireland related to our sectors".

"The inclusion of an FCI member on the board of CEETTAR is an acknowledgement of the tireless lobbying efforts that FCI have carried out in recent years," she added.