Tag Archives: Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association

A CLARE farm leader has taken issue with comments made by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Pippa Hackett, over controversial proposals to address Climate Change. In an interview with The Clare Champion, Minister Hackett said Ireland has to meet its Climate Change targets under the Paris Agreement and couldn’t control what happens in Brazil, which has to meet its own environmental obligations. “Ireland has to do what we can. Using Carbon Leakage not to take any action is a waste of time in my book and the government’s book, I am discounting that. “Ireland’s grasslands are a net emitter of carbon. We farm on a lot of peaty soils. When that is drained, that emits carbon. I think over the last 15 years we probably have lost more hedgerows than we have planted.” However, her comments have been challenged by Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) general secretary, Eddie Punch. Minister Hackett believes there is probably …

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) campaign threatening to withdraw from the Quality Assurance Scheme has met with a phenomenal response at the National Ploughing Championships in County Laois this week. “Since our stand opened on Tuesday morning, there has been a constant stream of farmers coming in to sign up,” said organisation president, Patrick Kent. “The anger out there is palpable among beef farmers, and this was reflected in the frank exchange of views with Minister Simon Coveney at the ICSA stand. ICSA again outlined the urgent need for a regulator for the meat industry. Farmers who came in to commit to withdrawal from the Quality Assurance Scheme were also hugely supportive of ICSA’s call for such a regulator,” he continued. Mr Kent stressed farmers want to see a successful beef export business and are committed to the highest standards. “ICSA believes it is not too late to pull back from this campaign if there are meaningful …