National Development Plan central in PD agri-food policy
Going ahead with the six-year plan’s €1.7bn spend on agriculture and forestry, €290 million on food industry infrastructure and marketing and €6m on the public aspect of the agri-food sector — particularly its contribution to the environment — is central to the PD manifesto.
But the non-business needs of rural dwellers also figure high on their agenda.
For example, the party headlines its plan to fund nationwide broadband and a transport infrastructure.
Health is also a priority area, and the PDs would use the Rural Social Scheme to support services to elderly people in remote areas. Rural health services would be enhanced through more out-of-hours GP services, and community-based cardiac and chronic disease management. A range of services in local hospitals is also pledged.
An efficient and accessible school bus system across the country is a PD target. A nationwide Anti Social Isolation Scheme would recruit and train neighbours to become the link with the world for older people isolated geographically or socially, in the PDs’ New Ireland.
Ensuring farmers benefit from a full 30-day movement period after brucellosis testing, and allowing the slaughter of 10% of a herd without compulsory testing are among the policies that may reflect the insights of party president Tom Parlon, an ex-IFA president. The PDs recommend a 36 months age limit for BSE testing of cattle.
A five-year transition period to facilitate mentoring in a family farm transfer would be part of the party’s plan to improve the early retirement scheme for older farmers and farm workers.
The party would make cross-compliance farm inspection user-friendly, fair and proportionate, with 14 days’ notice — except where it would completely devalue the inspection.
Full live export trade protection, tax system fairness for farmers, implementing the Nitrates derogation and Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme (this year) and the Malone Report on sheep farming are all PD aims.
The party would increase Beef Quality Assurance Scheme participation to 30,000 farms by 2009, and establish a similar Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme.
Increased installation aid and reduced interest loans are among PD measures to attract young people into farming.
The party would also remove restrictions in farm partnerships, and support agricultural training.
The Progressive Democrats aim to use REPS to support farmers who enhance the environment above mandatory requirements. Funding and an annual review of costings used to determine grant aid are promised in the Farm Waste Management Scheme, as is promotion of farmer awareness of low emission slurry spreading, which reduces the need for chemical nitrogen. Meanwhile, €4.7bn would be invested nationally for water treatment
The PDs would focus investment and every appropriate tax, excise relief and financial incentive to make Ireland a renewable energy crop world leader. Disadvantaged area payments would be maintained for farmers in these areas who produce energy crops — part of a general PD policy to ensure continued agricultural land use and countryside maintenance through financial support for disadvantaged farming areas.
There would be a “massive increase” in investment in wind farms, and Coillte’s forestry and wind farm potential would be maximised.
Bórd na Mona would be transformed into a sustainable energy enterprise, in line with a policy of maximising use of biomass — which would include support for building anaerobic digester plants to convert slurry into biogas. The PDs would directly support organic farmers during conversion and after.
Negotiated access to land for hill-walking and other recreational activities is also in the party’s manifesto.
Alternative complimentary businesses on farms would be supported, along with small speciality food enterprises.
In the broader food business, special Bórd Bia funding is promised for increased and value-added business, particularly in continental EU and Asia, and €640m would be invested in scientific foundation and support for agriculture, food and forestry.
At EU level, the PDs want “subsidiarity” — only things which must be done centrally will be done centrally.
They would look for highest standards and traceability of food products imported into the EU, vigorous defence of Irish and European agriculture interests in WTO talks and would defend decoupled single payments and resist re-negotiation of the CAP budget.
Back home, the PDs support the right of rural dwellers to build locally, defining a ‘local person’ as born and reared in a rural area, or living in a rural area at least seven years and forging strong links with the local community. Policy includes prevention of selling on a site for seven years after planning permission.
