3 FEBRUARY 2017
There was very strong opposition to the proposed water pipe to Dublin at an Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers’ Association meeting in the Thatch, Ballycommon on Thursday night (February 3rd). The meeting which was addressed by ICSA president Patrick Kent and general secretary Eddie Punch also heard contributions from Minister Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy and Jackie Cahill, TD as well as numerous local representatives and landowners.
ICSA president Patrick Kent pledged that the association would stand with local landowners in their fight against being pushed into something they did not want. “There are too many unanswered questions and farmers have many concerns about long-term devaluation of their farms and damage to productivity.”
ICSA general secretary Eddie Punch said that “it was very telling that over €1 billion could be found to bring water to Dublin but the entire rural renewal strategy has been allocated just €60 million. This project is all about putting everything into Dublin while allowing the economy of the rest of the country to stagnate. It makes no sense to being talking about this when we heard Minister Coveney on radio talking about the need for more balanced regional development.”
ICSA Tipperary chairman Tom Egan said that the scheme was badly thought out and that there was no need to impose such stress and disruption on farmers because there are many alternatives in Dublin.”
ICSA is committed to working with local landowners and any farmers worried about the pipeline should contact ICSA Tipperary chairman Tom Egan or the ICSA offices in Portlaoise.
ENDS
