Walshe: Department of Finance in denial about farm income crisis

THE Department of Finance is being accused of being in denial about the farm income crisis, which is due to be discussed at the Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith are due to meet with the farm groups in the partnership process.

But the Irish Farmers’ Association president Padraig Walshe accused the Department of Finance of showing a lack of awareness of the seriousness of the crisis and the role the productive agriculture sector plays in the economy.

The IFA has submitted proposals to the Government which it says identifies savings that can be brought aboutin the agricultural budget.