The current national bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication programme “is not working at present” according to the Fine Gael election candidate and Minister of State, Martin Heydon.
Speaking to Agriland as part of our ‘On the campaign trail – General Election 2024‘ series, Minister Heydon said that TB numbers are “going in the wrong direction” and he believes the “management of wildlife” must be a key part of any strategy to address TB.
According to Minister Heydon TB is just one of a number of issues that need to be reviewed, another is the problems around the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).
But primarily he believes “putting more money back into farmers’ pockets is absolutely key” for rural communities.
“When we talk about any of the challenges that we face in the agriculture sector whether it’s succession or keeping people on the farm in the different enterprises it all comes back down to income.
“There’s a number of key steps that can address income here, Fine Gael will fight for enhanced supports to farmers, but really, really importantly rather than just talking about the figures there, you have to change the structure.
“Our structures from European level are too restrictive in terms of conditionality that comes with these schemes,” he warned.
The Fine Gael candidate, who is standing for election in the Kildare South constituency, said it is “really important to every farming family that the farm is there as a viable option for your children to consider taking on for the next generation”.
But he said the issue of succession “comes back to income and the incentives and supports that are there for the young generation” to continue the family farm.
Minister Heydon said there it is also important to recognise the role that the older farmer has to play.
“When we talk about the likes of the farm mentor scheme it really is looking at that value that the older farmer has to offer.
“Unlike previous retirement schemes where the farmer would been felt like a criminal from being caught walking across the yard carrying a bucket we want to move to a space where that farmer can mentor with a younger farmer.
“We will look at measures around taxation as well as measures that there was previously on installation aid, supporting the younger farmer coming in and taking that partnership model that can really aid and support the succession piece because we need to and support more younger farmers coming into the sector,” Minister Heydon added.
Heydon
According to the Fine Gael candidate his party sees the nitrates derogation as a “top priority”.
“The nitrates derogation is absolutely vital but not just for the 7,000 farmers that are in derogation but for all of the other farmers that could be impacted like the tillage sector and other sectors – about land availability, the issue of succession and helping younger farmers get access to more land at an affordable price – the nitrates directive impacts on all of that.
“Also if you look at the spend, the multiplier effect that farmers have in their local communities, the value of the dairy industry and that derogation and the ability of our farmers to make a profit is absolutely critical to rural Ireland and the rural communities in which they’re in,” Minister Heydon added.
Agriland‘s ‘On the campaign trail – General Election 2024‘ series also features two other candidates who held an agriculture portfolio in the last government – Fianna Fáil’s, Charlie McConalogue and the Green Party’s Pippa Hacket.
It also features Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on agriculture, food and rural affairs, Martin Kenny and the Independent Ireland general election candidate, Michael Fitzmaurice