Micheál Martin gets applause from @IFAmedia Council members as he says “We can’t be prescriptive about what people eat, that’s a dangerous trend which is emerging” he adds “people can’t be brow beat into what to eat” #GE2020 @rtenews
— Fran McNulty (@franmcnulty) January 28, 2020
Responding to @HaroldKingston1 Martin re-affirms that FF policy does not support the reduction of the suckler herd & says Government’s BEAM scheme was a “sleveen way of reducing the herd” #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/C11HI3vcSj
— Fran McNulty (@franmcnulty) January 28, 2020
This afternoon.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin addresses the annual general meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Association in Dublin.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan is scheduled to address the meeting at 3pm, while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is scheduled to address it at 6pm.
UPDATE:
Last night, during the RTÉ Leaders’ Debate, a man in the audience asked the leaders what they would do, if in Government, in relation to the proposed reduction of the national suckler herd.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Fine Gael does not support reducing the national herd and said “that’s not part of our policy”.
He said there are other ways to reduce agricultural emissions.
He said beef farmers have had a very hard time and they often feel they are being “climate shamed” and “blamed for climate change”.
Mr Varadkar added: “I think that’s wrong. And I think that should stop.”
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said he believed the current agriculture system in Ireland is not serving Irish farmers. Instead, he said it’s serving the “big beef processors” and retailers.
He said the Green Party would support a smaller suckler herd while supporting alternative income streams for farmers.
Asked if he specifically agreed with the herd being reduced by 53 per cent, as suggested by Climate Change Advisory Council, Mr Ryan said:
“And at the same time, farmers’ income increase 53 per cent. That’s the change we need to make, so our farmers are better off by spending less, by delivering a product that we get a premium from here and abroad.”
Previously: Meeting Is Murder
Pic: Irish Farmers’ Association
UPDATE:
A clear commitment by @MichealMartinTD that if elected into Government, live exports will be maintained by @fiannafailparty #GE2020 #yourassociationyourvoice pic.twitter.com/7tB1ovpN4D
— Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) January 28, 2020
Eamonn was not very good at sums it seems. “And at the same time, farmers’ income increase 53 per cent. ”
If you reduce something by 53% you need to increase the result by nearly 89% to get it back to what it was.
So your 300g fillet steak now costs 23 euro instead of 12 or so.
“Alternative income streams”. A new farmer phrase for a handout.