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.

Scrapping export subsidies could bring the virtual elimination of EU exports of particular agricultural commodities within the next 10 years. These are issues that need to be addressed with detailed plans.

But yesterday’s speech was replete with vacuous platitudes about Fianna Fáil’s traditional role in supporting the farming community. Mr Ahern suggested that it was thanks to Fianna Fáil that the farmers have had a strong voice within the EU and at the table of the World Trade Organisation’s talks.

The party has undoubtedly done its best to defend the interests of Irish farmers, but in reality the farmers themselves have been their own most effective voice.

They put together a thoroughly professional organisation to lobby for their interests in Brussels, and they operated on a cross-party basis, affording example and inspiration to other sectional interests.

“Fianna Fáil in government will always put the interests of farmers first in Brussels and beyond,” the Taoiseach said. When he talks to other sectional interests, however, he seems to suggest that he actually puts their interests first.

People call that politics.

The speech was also somewhat contradictory in other regards. He intimated that the welfare of rural Ireland in general and the farming sector in particular, is determined elsewhere. Our government really does not have that much influence in the decision-making process.

“As in the past,” Mr Ahern said, “agriculture and rural development policies will be largely determined by the terms of the Common Agricultural Policy and the EU’s rural development policy.” Our Government certainly has a say, but it is only a voice among more than two dozen. While we may still have more influence than our size or importance might suggest, we would be deluding ourselves if we overestimated the strength of that voice.

This government has essentially been in power since 1997 and some of the promises it is currently making are merely indicative of its failures and lack of performance. Action, not promises, provides the most effective means for any government to promote its programmes.

This Government’s great failing can be measured against its empty promises on matters like decentralisation, or the fight against drugs and crime. We need action now, not more promises.