Report recommends radical steps to address west’s problems

RADICAL measures are needed to address the problems facing the rural economy in the West of Ireland, according to a report presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The report was compiled by Sinn Féin spokesperson Martin Ferris TD, following consultations with farming and fishing interests from West Cork to Donegal.

He said one of the surprising things to emerge from the survey, conducted at marts across the west during the summer, was the high level of pessimism expressed by farmers about their future.

Sixty per cent of farmers felt their situation had worsened since the introduction of the single farm payment and less than half believed they or their family would still be involved in farming in 10 years time.

“That has serious implications for the future and for government policy,” he said.

Mr Ferris said there are various proposals in the report as to how the single farm payment should be distributed and in relation to the farm inspections, which are an integral part of the payments system.

There was also a strong demand in the discussions he had with various groups and in the submissions received that the cuts made to various farm schemes in the budget be revoked.

“These cuts are seen not only as directly impacting on farmers’ incomes but on the wider rural community, particularly with regard to younger farmers, many of whom will now be forced to leave,” he said.

Mr Ferris said there is massive discontent within the fishing sector about its current state and its future.

This pessimism is reflected in the report which calls for the renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy to ensure the current inequitable quota allocation is changed.

“There is also a call for the current legislation to be replaced by administrative rather than criminal sanctions and for fishermen to be brought fully into the assessment of stocks and the forming of preservation schemes,” Mr Ferris said.