Lowry tells Dail ‘bureaucracy is smothering farmers’

Tipperary Independent TD, Deputy Michael Lowry told the Dáil that the agricultural way of life in rural Ireland is on the verge of 'being squeezed out of existence'.

‘Bureaucracy is smothering farmers. Farmers have become so bogged down in adhering to a myriad of directives and tackling mountains of paperwork, that the actual pleasure and satisfaction of farming is slipping from their grasp’ Deputy Michael Lowry told the Tanaiste during Leaders Questions in the Dail on Thursday.

‘Farmers throughout Ireland, are facing changes and challenges unlike anything ever witnessed. Reduced sales prices, rising costs, heavy regulation, serious debt, climate change demands and cheap imports are threatening the livelihoods of farmers in my constituency of Tipperary/North Kilkenny.

‘Farmers are not against change and advancement. They are pro-progress and pro-improvement. However, the imposition of ever-changing rules, regulations, inspection regimes and red tape is grinding down farmers. Farmers young and old are questioning viability and survival prospects. Our oldest and largest indigenous sector is in danger of being squeezed out of existence’ he stated.

Deputy Lowry said that he has been meeting and talking with farmers for many years and has never before witnessed such exasperation and vexation.

‘The imposition of negative measures is leading to frustration, aggravation and in many cases despair. The desire for young farmers to take over family-run farms has all but evaporated.

‘Looming in the back of the minds of our future farmers is the Mercosur Deal, which remains a massive threat to the beef sector. The transformation of CAP away from supporting food production towards actually reducing farm output.

‘CAP funding is being redirected to environmental schemes – the EU is effectively implementing new environmental regulations such as the “eco-schemes” on the cheap by redirecting existing funding instead of allocating additional funds.

‘A matter of grave concern is the reductions to the Nitrates derogation imposed by the European Commission with absolutely no flexibility offered and, the Commission threat to remove the derogation entirely in 2026.

‘The economic viability of the Irish tillage sector is in an extremely precarious position’ he continued. The level of rainfall has made it impossible to move livestock out into fields; planting and sowing of tillage crops is way behind and bills are mounting as farmers struggle to keep on top of their work.

‘I support the IFA’s call for a tillage expansion and sustainability scheme to be urgently introduced to financially support farmers in the sector and halt the decline in the national tillage area’ he told the Dáil.

‘The issue of VAT rebates remains a big issue for farmers who have carried out essential works on their farms. Issues have arisen with Revenue Commissioners interpretation whereby some investment items, which farmers had previously received refunds on, are no longer eligible. This is unfair and counterproductive.

‘The struggle to remain in farming is growing more challenging. Worry and stress replace incentive and planning. Strategies for growth have changed to prayers for survival’ said Deputy Lowry as he questioned what the Government’s response is to farmers at this critical juncture.

Acknowledging the variety of important issues raised by Deputy Lowry, the Tanaiste said that the Department engages on all Scheme delivery issues, adding that there is a Farmers Charter that provides for regular engagement, plus a range of practical supports such as Farmer Information Meetings.

The Tánaiste highlighted the excessive rainfall, which caused very high water tables and resulted in a difficult year for the Tillage Sector. ‘The Government provided more support to tillage farmers than any other in the history of the State’ he said, and Minister McConalogue has established a Tillage Stakeholders Group and work continues on resolving outstanding issues.

He continued that the Minister negotiated a comprehensive Common Agricultural Policy Agreement at European Union level, which has resulted in very significant supports for farming in Ireland. He added that direct supports for Protein Aid have more than doubled from €3m to €7m under the CAP Strategic Plan and that this was topped up €3m last year to bring the total to €10m. ‘We will continue to work with the Tillage Sector’ he said.

Adding that he had met with many farmers in respect of the Nitrates Derogation and what has happened, the Tanaiste said that it is essential that the industry works with the Government to make sure we get the Derogation in 2026.

‘It has to be a collective national effort to make sure we achieve that target’ he said, adding that the Water Quality Group has been established, involving stakeholders and delivery on dual objectives and Ministers McConalogue and O’Brien recently launched a €60m scheme to support farmers in improving water quality.

On the Mercosur Agreement, the Tanaiste emphasised that Ireland has persistently raised concerns at EU level in terms of our concerns on the beef market as well as the Environmental provisions within that Agreement.

‘Minister McConalogue has made it very clear that there needs to be equivalence of standards and there needs to be the same expectations on countries that are importing into the EU as we expect from our own farmers.

‘The Government is supportive of farming and supportive of agriculture’ said the Tanaiste.