No prosperous future for Ireland without a growing agriculture sector – Taoiseach
Taoiseach Simon Harris. (Niall Carson/PA)
There’s no prosperous future for Ireland without the agriculture sector growing and not contracting, the Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.
Speaking at the European People's Party (EPP) conference on agriculture in Carlow today, the Taoiseach promised new income streams to help farmers transition, while committing to support existing practice.
“I believe in maintaining a Nitrates Derogation for Ireland and I look forward to working closely with my MEP colleagues and with the Commission to make sure that is the case,” he said.
“I believe it is important for our industry here in this country and I want to work with farmers in relation to maintaining that.”
The Taoiseach said farmers “don’t need a lecture from Dublin” and that many populists “wouldn’t know one end of an animal to the other”.
“I think we have to do better when it comes to the debate around climate and suggesting the answer to it is reducing agricultural output - I don’t buy into that theory that you have to be on the side of climate or the side of farmers,” he said.
“It’s actually possible in Government and we’re obligated to do more than one thing at a time. What we need to do in Europe and Ireland is protect food security and the planet.”
Taoiseach Harris said that there has been a disproportionate focus on agriculture in the climate conversation.
“I absolutely understand that there is a sense of frustration and anger from farmers that they are on what they believe to be a constant treadmill of change over the past five years and a sense that their sector gets spoken down to or is no longer valued to the same extent as it once was,” he continued.
“It’s not good enough and it can’t be allowed to continue. So today as Taoiseach of this country, I want to thank you for the heavy lifting that you've already done and I want to commit to working with you in a spirit of partnership.
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s no future for rural Ireland and no prosperous future for Ireland, that does not involve farming, farmers, the agri-food sector growing, not contracting. By working with you we’ll ensure that farmers can earn a decent income whilst protecting the environment.”
