Traditional farmer vote ‘will go to party able to meet sectors needs’
He said the election may well see farmers finally leave their traditional voting allegiances and patterns behind and begin to vote on a sectoral basis.
Mr Cahill said there had been a tendency on the part of certain political parties to take the allegiances of farmers for granted.
As a result, the effort devoted to the problems affecting farming was nothing compared to what was directed to other sectors.
Mr Cahill said the ICMSA was determined to challenge this outdated assumption and has asked for a meeting with political parties represented in the Dáil to hear their solutions to specific problems besetting agriculture.
He said he hoped all the meetings would be held in advance of the release of the general election manifestos by the parties.
The ICMSA wants to identify well in advance of the thrust and counter-thrust of the election campaign the political parties that are in earnest about agriculture and agri-business concerns, as well as those that are merely going through the motions.
“Irish farmers have finally realised that their very loyalty and seriousness has actually told against them through our sector’s neglect by policymakers.
“Farmers are a critical constituency and once they are made aware of the various positions being adopted by the parties in relation to agriculture, ICMSA fully expects them to vote accordingly,” he said.
Mr Cahill said the series of meetings with the parties is a continuation of the process, begun at the ICMSA annual general meeting in November, which is aimed at restoring farming to the national political agenda.
He said the farming sector must convince the political parties that the days of taking them for granted while showing favouritism to IBEC and the ICTU were over.
The ICMSA process will include seeking meetings with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Progressive Democrats, the Green Party and Sinn Féin.
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