Brave man

It’s a rare occasion when someone takes on the might of Revenue, when they feel unjustly treated, and wins. The difference in resources available to Revenue and the lay person is sizeable, so congratulations to the brave farmer who challenged Revenue over a tax bill of almost €73,000. Twelve years later, his appeal was upheld by the Tax Appeals Commission, which directed Revenue to reduce his bill to nil. Try to imagine the worry and stress this man went through and the time it took to get justice, for which there is no compensation. The legal bill he would have faced if he failed doesn’t bear thinking about. 

Profit – not a dirty word

At this time of year, agricultural contractors should have agreed terms with their farmers for the work they will be required to carry out. I can only hope they have pitched their prices so that they make a reasonable profit to enable them to continue in business and be around next year for their farmers. I have reminded contractors many times they are not a charity or bank for those who cannot afford to pay the going rate, or who drag out payment for work carried out. Farmers who fall into this category do a disservice, not only to themselves but to their fellow farmers, because their actions put contractors’ businesses in jeopardy.  Some might say we don’t need to worry, there are plenty of pop-up contractors around – this is high-risk thinking that will come back to bite them. 

Changes afoot

Beware the bureaucrats in their little rooms in Brussels who are, at present, reviewing the legislation for the testing of tractors, to be announced towards the end of 2023. One of the main factors for expanding testing requirements is the effect of old or badly maintained machinery on the climate.  Reducing environmental pollution will be a major factor in any changes made.

Road courtesy goes both ways

As the silage season approaches, there will be more tractors and machinery on the road and, as usual, some other road users will start complaining of slow-moving traffic and difficulty in passing. I would urge all agricultural contractors, farmers, and their drivers to show courtesy to other road users and when possible and where it is safe to do so, pull in and let traffic pass. 

However, we must realise that this is not always possible. PAC Ireland has been asking for years that local authorities provide pull-in bays on stretches of road that are particularly affected by this problem. That said, courtesy is a two-way thing and I would urge all road users travelling in rural Ireland over the summer to be aware that there may be slow-moving machinery on their route, to be patient and if necessary allow extra time for their journey.