Sinn Féin introduces family farm legislation in the Dail
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Agriculture, Claire Kerrane TD, and Sinn Féin TD for Monaghan-Cavan, Matt Carthy TD, have introduced the party’s legislation to establish a Commission on the Future of the Family Farm.
The legislation was introduced at first stage in the Dáil this week by the two SF representatives, with Deputy Kirrane stating “we cannot and should not leave the agriculture sector to chance, reacting to some crises, leaving some farmers feeling alone and struggling, with no plan for the threat that some of our family farms feel under especially with rising input costs and in the face of climate action pressures.”
Having been “born, raising and living on a family farm” Deputy Kirrane said she was glad to have the opportunity to introduce the SF legislation, honouring a key commitment made by the party.
“This legislation is about protecting the family farm, responding to and planning for the challenges family farms face and bringing forward comprehensive and practical recommendations on how this can be done in a proactive way.
“It is about taking action to sustain family farms recognising their value to our island and to our communities, economically and socially” she said.
Sinn Féin want to establish a Commission on the Future of the Family Farm, which would bring together stakeholders and experts tasked with bringing forward proposals aimed at allowing our farms not just to survive but to thrive over the rest of this century and beyond.
The establishment of a Commission is a long-standing call from the party and the legislation was developed during Matt Carty's time as party spokesperson for agriculture.
The legislation will establish a Commission whose sole responsibility will be protecting and sustaining the family farm – reporting and making recommendations directly to the Minister and the Dail on securing it’s economic viability, it’s future through generational renewal and succession planning, promoting a better understanding of how food is produced and supporting farming families in meeting climate challenges.
“The Irish family farm must be protected” Matt Carthy told the Dail, adding that farmers are “are expected to produce the highest quality food in the world, which they do, and they are expected to do that within the strictest animal welfare, environmental, biodiversity and climate rules in the world, which they do. What is neede now is fairness. a fair CAP, fair prices and fair play.”