My mission statement for future of farming in the national interest

THE focus on rural Ireland over recent weeks related to blood sports.

The challenge of the unspeakable chasing the uneatable has been depicted as wealthy Castle Catholics and traditional West Brits seeking to retain their past traditions. Beyond the Ward Union, the crunch issue is foxhunting. The ban in Britain has alerted hunts here. While this Dáil circus has been playing, nobody is minding the shop of rural Ireland. The future of farming has never faced greater challenges than in this decade.

The decline in the importance of agriculture to politicians has been acute. Long gone are the days when farmers’ marches absorbed the nation, as when Charlie Haughey was Minister for Agriculture. Now they must take their turn with taxi drivers, nurses, teachers, pensioners and assorted health groups outside the Dáil. Media coverage of agriculture has been relegated to niche print supplements, segmented broadcasts and the Farmers’ Journal – no longer mainstream.