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FARMERS IN IRELAND have called on the Government to apply the same principles to them as to those dealt with under the Croke Park agreement.
Speaking ahead of Budget 2012 announcements, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has pleaded with the Finance and Agriculture ministers not to impose any further cuts on the farming sector.
The association’s president Gabriel Gilmartin said any further cuts could undermine targets for export growth in the agri-food sector, which has provided a note of optimism during the economic crisis.
“Farmers should be treated on the same basis as public servants and that there should be a Croke Park-style commitment to no further cuts to farmers,” he said.
Gilmartin claims that farmers have already taken “serious hits”, including the closing down of REPS, a €1,000 decrease in the disadvantaged area payment and the halving of the suckler cow welfare scheme.
Some farmers have lost over €10,000 of their yearly income, he said.
The Croke Park agreement for the public sector was based on the principle that public sector workers had done their bit and therefore should be insulated from further cuts. I believe that farmers have also done their bit and the government cannot be seen to treat farmers as second-class citizens compared to the public sector.”
The ICSA has published its pre-budget submission.
The Revised Estimates for Public Services and the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 show that capital spending for agriculture will drop from €269m in 2011 to €150m in 2012. In terms of current spending, agriculture will also lose out. In 2011, the current expenditure ceiling was set at €1.346 billion but in 2012 it will be lowered to €1.136bn, falling even further in 2013 and 2014.
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““Farmers should be treated on the same basis as public servants and that there should be a Croke Park-style commitment to no further cuts to farmers,” he said.”
Jesus wouldn’t we all love to get a slice of that action ourselves. Who’s next up for a bit of special pleading?
Where else in the world would you see private businessmen (ie farmers) asking for the same protection as public service workers ?
If their business isn’t sustainable then it should be let fail, not be propped up by the already burdened taxpayer.
Only where they are married to teachers, guards, nurses etc. Bread buttered both sides as usual!
Is it the first of April ?
I would also like to appeal not to introduce more taxes on twitter users! Thanks
Subsidy is part of the social and political fabric all over the world Derek. This may come as a considerable surprise to those who believe that Irish farmers are hoovering up trillions of euro and spending it downing babycham at the Calf and Ass or secreting it in the Caymans. Moreover, virtually every cent received is spent in this juristiction giving at least a minor shot in the arm to the economy. In an ideal world nothing would be subsidised, we’d all be happy and the sun would shine all day, but in the meantime get real.
Well said John!
Despite the common perception the average farm income is 18000 and that was after a 48% increase This average covers sheep and cattle farmers that make between 6-12 grand and grain and tillage that make between 30-40 grand Even the big farmers aren’t making any fortune and you can be sure their hourly pay would workout well below the minimum wage rate. What people fail to realised Is that farming is not an industry that can simply be closed down and set up again over night and people will soon be complaining when the global food shortage really kicks in over the coming years It is the large supermarkets that make the massive profits out of food – and not the farmers Ps I am one of those sober Irish men :) http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0509/teagasc.html
Of course the farmers want money for nothing – they were the people who invented the concept.
god theres some serious hatred for the aul public sector here, i am fortunate to work in a nice safe lab 9-5 mon to fri but the next time you see a house on fire or a shooting spare a thought for the poor souls that are out in this weather keeping us safe ya misery gits.
Hey! I thought it was the farmers we were giving it to this time! Us cynics can’t win!!!
a poor farmer is as rare as a sober irishman
Did I not read somewhere that 3/4 of EU expenditure went on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
And what about all those sites that were sold?
Where’s the money gone?
A Chinese rice farmer manages to get 3 crops of rice a year out of a piece of land that is the size of a average hotel bedroom. He manages to feed his family and give tax to the government. All this without subsidies and they make a little money from the barter system. Our guys manage to loose a fortune while being payed not to grow crops and not to breed certain animals.
People with allotments would do a better job.
The concept of peaceful protest doesn’t apply either – farmers protest at dept of agriculture wexford.
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