ICMSA say reductions in farm emissions achieved without ‘meaningful Government support’

Speaking in response to the latest EPA annual report on Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan, said that the reduction in overall emissions was welcome and he said that the drop in agri-emissions had been achieved in spite of – rather than because of – any meaningful Government support. The ICMSA President said that State policy on helping farmers reduce agri-emissions was ‘all stick and no carrot’ and had contributed notably to the collapse in farm incomes – particularly in the dairy sector.  Mr. Drennan said that it was depressingly predictable that more focus and attention would be devoted to the reduction in farm emissions than had been given to the shocking wipeout of farm incomes.

Mr. Drennan said that one meaningful way that the Government could recognise the reductions in farm emissions while providing some support to farm families would be the introduction of the Climate & Volatility Mitigation Measure set out in ICMSA’s pre-Budget submission.

 “We desperately need some way of helping farmers to set aside any funds in ‘Good’ years that they can access in ‘Bad’ years of exactly the type we’re experiencing now. Those funds can be under the regulation of the Central Bank in approved deposits and any tax due can me paid when they’re withdrawn and brough back into the farm accounts. The details are there and open to negotiation, but no-one seriously doubts that we need some way of allowing farmers to ‘park money in good years that they can use in the bad years. Because the volatility is so much more extreme and the ‘bad’ years are occurring so much more frequently”, said Mr. Drennan.

 Ends      9 July 2024

Denis Drennan, 086-8389401

President, ICMSA.

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office