Macra opposes social partnership plan
President Séamus Phelan said Macra’s national council members were very disappointed with the document. The general view is it is high on aspirations but low on commitments.
Unless there was movement by the Government, Macra would have to end its 16-year involvement in social partnership, he said. Fine Gael has, meanwhile, called on Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh to reverse his decision to double animal disease levies.
It claimed during a private members’ motion in the Dáil that the Government had deserted the farming community by implementing proposals, which would drive people from the land.
Mr Walsh, however, rejected the claim and said it simply lacks credibility to suggest that the Government is anything other than fully committed to the agriculture sector.
Fine Gael spokesperson Billy Timmins said the minister would be sending a positive signal to an industry in crisis if he reversed his decision to double the disease levies.
“Such a move would have the support of many of his own colleagues and may also assist in farm groups going back into the partnership,” he said.
Mr Walsh said he was fully aware of the upset the increase in disease levies had caused. Like any other consumer of services, no one likes to have to pay more.
However, this increase must be placed in the context of a steep rise in the cost to the Exchequer of disease eradication measures in recent years.
To alleviate the problem an offer has been made, within the partnership process, to the farm organisations to partake in a series of value for money reviews of expenditure.
These reviews would take place this year to identify savings for the Exchequer and farmers while protecting consumer health, animal health and animal welfare and complying with statutory requirements.
