It appears as if this Government, and particularly Fianna Fail, is intent on penalising the agricultural sector at every turn when it comes to the climate change agenda, independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has said.<\/p>\n

Reacting to comments made by the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, and the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, at the Irish Farmers\u2019 Association\u2019s (IFA\u2019s) AGM, Fitzmaurice said: \u201cFianna Fail now seem to be greener than Eamon Ryan and the Green Party, only Micheal Martin is not cycling around on a bike.<\/p>\n

\u201cHearing their comments yesterday, it seems as if Fianna Fail is intent on using the climate change agenda as a stick to beat farmers with moving forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of recognising the work that farmers are already doing, this Fianna Fail led Government will move to place even more restrictions and red tape on farmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas any work or research been done to recognise the carbon sequestration value Ireland\u2019s hedgerows provide?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Taoiseach spoke about afforestation and linking it with the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I have said consistently in the past, I have no problem with a certain amount of forestry; but it must be evenly spread. No particular area can be unfairly targeted.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeanwhile, Minister McConalogue spoke about the \u2018premise of a stable herd\u2019 when it comes to the dairy sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow will this impact young farmers or new entrants, who are looking to grow their business?<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past, Fianna Fail also hung their hat on a \u20ac200 per head payment for the suckler cow \u2013 which has been forgotten about since they took office.<\/p>\n

\u201cFarmers in rural Ireland would be forgiven for worrying listening to these statements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen one of the only clear proposals the Taoiseach can give is to plant more trees, it doesn\u2019t spell much hope for rural communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems as if the agriculture sector and rural Ireland will be forced to carry the can for their urban counterparts. If we continue down this road, large swathes land will be abandoned in favour of forests and carbon farming \u2013 turning rural Ireland into a theme park, only to be visited at the weekends and school holidays.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne week we are listening to news about rewetting land, the next week we are listening to reports of a scheme to chop straw into the ground. The Taoiseach stated yesterday, and I quote, that \u201cagriculture is entering a decade of change\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet no one be fooled, if this continues they will aim to rewild land that farmers have reclaimed over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are the same parties who will come knocking on your door telling you how great you are and that you are the backbone of the country \u2013 while they are steadily pulling rural Ireland apart bit by bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of their people were jumping up and down about Bord na Mona, but now Fianna Fail and Fine Gael seem to be letting the horticulture sector go to ruin as well \u2013 as they are not prepared to stand up to the Greens.<\/p>\n

\u201cStaying in Government seems to be more important than looking after the people in rural Ireland,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

Michael Fitzmaurice \u2013 0861914565<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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