Sinn Féin spokesperson on Martin Kenny TD and Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Agriculture has described the Programme for Government as lacking in substance for farming families.

Teachta Kenny said:

“It is very disappointing and a lost opportunity by the incoming government to give Irish farmers reassurance that their incomes will be protected over the next five years.

“On reading the Programme for Government for Agriculture, the words that stick out the most are ‘review and examine’. There is no substance to this Programme for Government, the only figure mentioned in the agriculture section of the Programme for Government is the current €1.3bn Forestry Programme.

“The document states the incoming government will deliver a scheme that recognises the category of farmers known as the forgotten farmers. This again is very vague language; everyone already recognises that there is a group of forgotten farmers and they deserve to be compensated.

“It also states that government will ‘examine a mechanism to engage with stakeholders on the design of national agriculture schemes’ – what a load of nonsense, examining a mechanism to talk to people.

“This incoming government, with the support of so-called independent TDs, could have stated its complete opposition to the Mercosur Deal but again failed to do this, only opposing it in its current form.

“The Mercosur Deal will have a devastating impact on Irish Beef farmers, and it is very disappointing that those rural independent TDs did not stand up for Irish farmers.

“There are a lot of promises of support and investment but no substance of how much support or investment will be given. I hope that this is not just a list of empty promises.

“I and my colleagues in Sinn Féin will hold this government to account, standing up for farm families to protect the future of Irish farming.”