Progress on social partnership talks

PROGRESS is being reported in the negotiations on agriculture in the social partnership process.

The talks with the farm leaders at Government Buildings were adjourned at the weekend and are expected to resume later this week.

Farm leaders have confirmed that progress has been made but that a number of substantial issues have yet to be agreed.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said that of all the sectors in social partnership, farming was facing the most serious challenges in the coming years. A new social partnership agreement would have to recognise this situation. An inclusive agreement must provide for a rural development plan for agriculture to meet the challenges of globalisation, he said.

ICMSA president Jackie Cahill said a further response from the Government was required to properly finance an envisaged seven-year farm development programme.

He said the ICMSA is also seeking the inclusion of a code of practice on the implementation of the nitrates directive. Mr Cahill called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to intervene in order to move the talks forward to a conclusion.

He said the funding of the farming programme must take account of the likely inflation over the seven-year period.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan told the EU Farm Council in Luxembourg yesterday she was totally opposed to any further concessions on agriculture by the EU at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Geneva next week.

She said the EU offer of October 28 last was not only conditional but was at the limit of its negotiating position.