John Curran from Kells in Co. Meath is the new chair of the IFA National Rural Development Committee. He succeeds Michael Biggins who has completed his four-year term. John takes up his role at the association’s 69th annual general meeting (AGM), which has been taking place today (January 9).
One of his immediate priorities would be the ACRES scheme, he said. “All farmers who applied under Tranche 2 of ACRES must be accommodated. We cannot be limited to 50,000. We either want to achieve our environmental targets or we don’t. The Department also needs to realise that many low-income families, particularly those in vulnerable sectors, rely on agri-environment programmes to survive,” he said.
On the broader issue of payments, John said there cannot be a repeat of what happened last year, with delayed farm-scheme payments and farmers not having confirmation of when payments will be made.
“Farmers cannot be at the mercy of Department inefficiencies. They need to get real, make direct and proactive contact with farmers and farm representatives, in good time, to let them know where they stand. There is just too much at stake,” he said.
Meanwhile, Teresa Roche has been elected chair of the Farm Family & Social Affairs Committee, succeeding Alice Doyle, who was elected IFA deputy president last month. Teresa will also officially assume the role at today’s AGM.
“We will have a very busy agenda with the range of issues that we cover. Initially, my focus will be on services for mental health; pensions for farm families; and encouraging greater involvement of women in farming,” she said.