Stephen Cadogan: Winning hearts and minds in war against farm fatalities

With so many lives at risk, it is right and fitting that Minister Simon Coveney has made farm safety “probably the highest priority this year in terms of policy change”.

He says he may have to make some unpopular decisions — never easy for a politician — in order to change farmer attitudes to safety.

The unpopular decisions may be in the area of youngsters helping on farms, driving tractors.