Farm industry’s warm welcome for Mary
She will travel to the National Ploughing Championships at Grangeford, Tullow, Co Carlow, today, where she will be greeted by many of the agri-industry leaders with whom she will be working.
Another woman, Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association’s managing director, will welcome her to the event, which President Mary McAleese will visit.
IFA president John Dillon said he looked forward to working with the new minister on the many challenges facing the farming sector.
Being from a rural constituency, she was well placed to represent agriculture and rural communities. He expected her to be a strong and effective voice for agriculture at the Cabinet table.
President Pat O’Rourke said the ICMSA was confident Ms Coughlan would bring enthusiasm and a new approach.
She takes over at a critical juncture in the development of Irish agriculture, and has the ability to perform. She could be assured of ICMSA co-operation, but he said it will expect her to act and deliver.
Macra na Feirme president Thomas Honner said Ms Coughlan was an accomplished and skilled politician and he was looking forward to working with her to further the cause of young farmers.
Her first challenge would be to ensure the nitrates directive was implemented in a way that did not impede commercial farming.
Macra national council member Shirley Bennett said the appointment of Ms Coughlan was a watershed for women involved in agriculture.
ICSA president Malcolm Thompson said she would have a huge task in ensuring the change to decoupling was capitalised on to deliver better farm incomes. She must be passionate in advocating the rights of farmers to a realistic income he said.
