Truce offer proposed
Limerick IFA County Chairman, Michael O'Flynn's truce offer could end a war of words over unannounced inspections, often without the farmer owner being present, by officials of state and local bodies.
His plan is based on the successful working relationship between farmers and Limerick County Council.
At national IFA level, he is pursuing a policy of putting similar procedures and protocols in place for all official farm inspections.
He wants farmer rights respected, and said inspectors arriving unannounced on farms and carrying out inspections when the farmer is not present is not acceptable.
In contrast, he said, farmer organisations, Teagasc, and Limerick County Council have established a good working relationship on environmental issues.
If a farmer is not present when an official of the County Council calls, the official leaves a note stating when they will return, with a phone number for contact.
