WHILE Eamon Ryan wanted to stress how aware he is of the importance of farmers in preserving the environment, he would have been left with few illusions about how suspicious farmers are of his party after last week’s meeting.
Councillor Pat Burke left little room for doubt where he stood when he addressed the meeting.
“I’m a full time farmer and I’m not a fan of the Green Party”
He claimed that the party is “very anti-rural” while he stressed the care that himself and many other rural dwellers have taken good care of their environment for many years.
Councillor Burke said that he had contacted the office of Minister of State for Land Use & Biodiversity about ash dye back, but hadn’t heard anything at all in return.
He also told the Minister that his department has been able to find money for cycle lanes and the likes around Ennis, but hasn’t been able to do anything for a genuinely serious safety issue at Henchy’s Cross.
Councillor Burke also said he drives a three litre jeep for farming, and an electric car is not an option for what he needs to do.
Councillor Pat Hayes said that he is a part time farmer himself, and that suckler farmers feel they have been hard done by in recent times.
He said that in many cases farming is not economically viable at the moment, while he stressed that those involved in agriculture are the custodians of the environment. For that role to be continued, he said it needs to be funded.
Councillor Joe Killeen claimed that farmers have been “demoralised and demonised” of late, while he said many of them are earning in the region of €7-8,000, but have seen their costs increased by €4,500.
Minister Ryan stressed that passing on farming knowledge is of huge importance, while he said that having a system that one can say is positive for animals is necessary.
“The market is the key determinant, the consumer pays for everything.”
He said that in his view every farmer matters, and that it is important for the sustainability of farming that it be carried out in an environmentally sound manner.
“If we lose the greenness we risk losing the money.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.