Farmers divided over Walsh ‘negativity’ remark

A CLAIM by Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh that there is too much negativity among farm leaders has been supported by one Cork farm leader and strongly rejected by four others.

West Cork Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) chairman Dermot Kelleher said Minister Walsh is right to seek a more positive outlook. But the respective IFA chairmen for West Cork, Cork Central and North Cork, along with Munster vice- president Donal Kelly, Beara, called on the Minister to withdraw his “cheap jibe”.

Mr Walsh, speaking with reporters in Kilkenny last weekend, sharply criticised the “continuous drone” of complaints by some farm leaders.