Wexford County Council and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) have agree to a protocol for farm inspections in the county.
The agreement on the protocol followed negotiations between the local authority and Wexford IFA representatives in recent weeks.
Under the new National Agriculture Inspections Programme, county councils are now required to carry out environmental inspections on farms.
The IFA has highlighted this as a concern for farmers who are already being inspected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and Bord Bia.
Farm inspections
Wexford IFA chair Jer O’Mahony highlighted the importance of this protocol and the clarity it provides to farm families across the county.
“This is a significant agreement between Wexford IFA and Wexford County Council.
“Farm inspections under the new National Agriculture Inspections Programme have raised concerns for farmers and this gives a degree of clarity,” he said.
O’Mahony added that the protocol gives respect to farm families and “recognises their unique place in food production”
“We hope this agreement will be the basis for similar agreements between IFA and county councils across the country,” he said.
County councils
Meanwhile, Wexford IFA also held a protest outside Wexford County Council offices yesterday (Monday, March 12) before making a presentation to councillors to highlight the concerns of farmers.
It was among demonstrations held by IFA county executives outside local authority offices in several counties as part of the latest phase of the IFA’s ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign.
In Cavan IFA members held a protest outside Cavan County Council buildings.
IFA Ulster/North Leinster Regional chair Frank Brady and Cavan IFA chair Maurice Brady addressed the local authority in the council chamber before councillors unanimously passed a resolution supporting the campaign.
In Clare, the IFA made a presentation to Clare county councillors to highlight the issues in the agriculture sector.
Tipperary North and Tipperary South IFA also came together in Clonmel to protest outside Tipperary County Council offices.
Around 20 farmers and several tractors also gathered outside the Kerry County Council offices in Tralee.
Kerry county councillors unanimously backed an emergency motion offering their support to farmers.