Hens and stags put before cows, ICMSA AGM in Limerick hears

OVER 300 delegates from all over the country assembled in the Radisson Blu Hotel Limerick to hear An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Charlie McConalogue and Minister Eamon Ryan address the packed event.

It was a powerful line-up following on from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, last year. Outgoing ICMSA president Pat McCormack took advantage of the powerful guest speakers to tell them some “home truths” about the state of farming and the problems faced by, particularly, dairy farmers all over the State.

Aside from the specific farmer problems like low prices and the havoc being caused by what Mr McCormack characterised as the ‘non-defence’ of Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation, the ICMSA president took unerring aim at what he said was the “jaw-dropping double-standard evident in the Government’s attitude on emissions”.

The ICMSA president said that if the Mecosur deal proceeds, then the Irish Government and the EU forfeit the right to ever mention sustainability again.

He said that if this Government is serious about climate change, then detailed negotiations along with funding need to take place so that we ensure that we have a vibrant climate efficient agriculture sector going forward. Without this, he maintained that it was just so much “hot air” where we were told that a surplus of hot air is the main cause of the overall problem.

“Every single morning, we wake up to a working day that will be dominated by the word ‘emissions’ and how we can lower them?

“Rising emissions are – we never cease to be told – a global problem and the survival of the human race – not to mind our family farms – depends on lowering emissions.

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“Imagine our surprise then to be told that we can expect air travel to surge by 12% next year. Just in case that was too vague, we had Kenny Jacobs, of DAA, saying: ‘We want to grow Dublin Airport from 32 to 40 million [passengers a year]’.

“Taoiseach, I’m no scientist but surely increasing passenger numbers from 30 million to 40 million is going to involve more emissions; it’s going to mean massively increased emissions.

“Obviously, that being the case, the Irish Government should have said we’re very sorry Mr Jacobs, but we’re really committed to lowering emissions: that’s why we spend every day restricting Irish farmers and actually introducing measures aimed at lowering emissions,” said Mr McCormack, who cited a Sunday Independent article on November 5 where the Taoiseach indicated he support the lifting of the ceiling on passenger numbers from Dublin Airport.

“The reason you cite is that if we don’t offer those new routes then we’ll lose them to other competing hubs and airports.

Taoiseach, we have been explaining to anyone that would listen that the moment we drop the volumes of milk that we produce in the most sustainable way on the planet, that that milk production will immediately switch to other locations that are not as sustainable – so Ireland loses the money, and the planet gets higher emissions.

“My question to you is why don’t emissions matter for flights overseas for stag parties and hen nights, but do matter for food production in Limerick or Tipperary or anywhere in Ireland? Cows are bad and have to go - but hens and stags are fine and can just work away,” said an exasperated Mr McCormack.