Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Pippa Hackett has said that she is facing an “uphill battle” in the general election.
The Finance Bill, which is the legislation underpinning Budget 2025, passed all stages in the Dáil last night (Tuesday, November 5) paving the way for Taoiseach Simon Harris to call the election this week.
Despite the absence of an election date – widely expected to be November 29 – politicians across the country have been busy on the campaign trail in recent weeks.
Election
Speaking to Agriland at BioFarm 2024 in Co. Limerick yesterday, Minister Hackett agreed that the general election will be tough for her and her colleagues in the Green Party.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge, I think it’s a challenging electoral cycle anyway. It will be challenging for the Green Party, but I think certainly looking back on this government, I think everyone would agree…our fingerprints were all over it from the start.
“We will have left significant legacies there, I’d like to think of my own role in the department of agriculture too and hopefully those will follow suit.
“I’m running again myself in Co. Offaly, I accept it’s an uphill battle but I think it’s something that’s worth doing.
“I think there is cohorts of people out there, farmers included, who like what the Greens have done for them,” she said.
Offaly will be a stand-alone constituency for the first time in the upcoming election and will return three TDs to the next Dáil.
When asked about her legacy in the department of agriculture, Minister Hackett pointed to the “turn around” in the organic farming sector.
Despite facing much criticism from farming organisations about forestry during her tenure, the minister said that the sector has now emerged from “a dark, dark woods”.
“We’ve cleared up all of the challenges around licensing, around appeals. We have a fit-for-purpose, robust licensing system now within the department,” she said.
The minister pointed to the number of afforestation licences in August and September and said the challenge is now to actually plant the trees in the ground.
Minister Hackett said that she was “happy overall” with what she has achieved, but said there are some lingering issues around the removal of hedgerows.
BioFarm
There was a warm reception for Minister Hackett at BioFarm 2024 who was praised for her efforts in promoting organic farming during her tenure in the department of agriculture.
During her speech at the conference, Hackett urged all of those in attendance to “get on the pitch when it comes to devising” Ireland’s next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan after 2027.
“It’s never too early to start thinking about it, the importance of well thought out, coherent policy papers from groups with real experience cannot be under estimated.
“You can guarantee that farm organisations will be starting their cases very soon, so anyone who wants a strong say in this, get organised too,” she said.
Minister Hackett also appealed to those in attendance to submit “innovative proposals” for a new €17.5 million fund aiming to address some of the main environmental challenges currently being faced on Irish farms.
The open call for European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects under the general theme of environmental sustainability was launched yesterday.