Safety issue raised at Family Farm conference

The disproportionate levels of accidents, “too many of them lethal”, that occur on Irish farms was highlighted by President Michael D Higgins in his keynote address to an IFA and Teagasc-organised International Year of Family Farming conference in Dublin yesterday.

President Higgins, who noted the sector is working on addressing this grave issue, said children and older people appear to be particularly vulnerable to farm accidents.

The importance of fostering children’s interests in farming, while making sure they are not exposed to risk, is a concern for many farming parents, he said.