Agriculture conference - Time for action, not promises

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday told the Fianna Fáil agriculture and food conference in Birr, Co Offaly, that the party had an ambitious blueprint for the future development of the Irish agricultural sector.

But there was little indication of the actual plans, which he said are being prepared as part Agri-Vision 2015. It is currently being finalised by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan and her team.

A Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute - Ireland report last week indicated that as a result of reforms by the World Trade Organisation, Irish agricultural income could decline by €200 million a year, or by 11% by 2015.