Ag Scheme must be more than just FF electioneering

by deirdreforde

Ag Scheme must be more than just FF electioneering

Strategic focus needed for long-term sustainability of agrifood sector

Election 2007 sheep package still hasn’t materialised……

Fine Gael Spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Michael Creed TD today said the lack of strategic focus accompanying the €69m agriculture package announced by Taoiseach Brian Cowen unfortunately smacks of yet another pre-election promise that is unlikely to result in real benefits for farmers.

“Any investment in the agricultural sector must be strategically invested in the sector to benefit farmers as well as individual processors. Worryingly, the package announced by the Taoiseach at the weekend has not been followed up by any explanation as to its purpose or any strategic vision underpinning it. Under these circumstances it is difficult to see it as anything other than a political slush fund designed to massage the Fianna Fáil vote.

“Unfortunately we’ve witnessed this kind of approach adopted by Fianna Fáil in the past, with a €28 million sheep package announced weeks before the 2007 General Election, which we are still waiting to see delivered. As the latest indications are that sheep numbers are at a 23 year low, any investment package in the sheep meat sector, which part of this funding is, must tackle the alarming fall off in herd numbers, not just the processing sector.

“The dairy investment fund is another example of a fund which, because of the lack of a strategic objective, failed to target the real issues at the heart of a sector in crisis with dairy farmers and processors now in real trouble.

“The Taoiseach has called the Opposition’s political objectivity into question but it is difficult to see this latest move by Fianna Fáil as anything other than a thinly disguised election promise, eleven days before polling day. Brian Cowen says he is fed up with bad news but what he means is that he doesn’t like hearing the truth about the dismal performance of his Government and its damaging impact on the lives of ordinary people.”