ICMSA Receives Confirmation From Taoiseach Ahern On Herd Scheme
IRELAND - THE President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, has confirmed that the association has received a personal undertaking from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to introduce the Dairy Herd Premium Scheme for which the farm organisation has been pressing.
29 March 2007
1 minute read
Mr Cahill said he was delighted to receive the confirmation during a meeting with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan at Government Buildings.
Minister Coughlan told the ICMSA delegation that she expected the details of the Dairy Herd Scheme to be finalised shortly and both sides discussed the ICMSA proposal that such a scheme would be supported by annual funding of s50 million.
The introduction of a Dairy Herd Scheme would represent a considerable achievement for the farm organisation who have long argued against any developments or proposals that they felt discriminated against dairy farmers.
Turning to other matters, Mr Cahill said that he had emphasised the need for a radial overhaul of the Farm Inspection system, including the critical need for pre-inspection notification. Minister Coughlan assured ICMSA that she would continue to seek EU changes to allow for pre-inspection notifications and that definite proposals on this matter would be considered by the EU Farm Council at its meeting in Luxembourg in April.
Amongst the other matters discussed by the farm delegation and the Government team, were WTO, tax and stamp relief for farm consolidation enlargement and the funding of the various farm grant schemes.
Source: Mealth Chronicle
