30 JANUARTY 2018

ICSA rural development chairman Seamus Sherlock has outlined his priorities for the next two years following his re-election to the position at ICSA’s AGM and Annual Conference. Speaking following the vote Mr Sherlock said his focus would be on securing increased payments for farmers under Pillar II of CAP. “Schemes under the Rural Development Programme will have to be recalibrated so farmers get a greater share of the funds available.”

Mr Sherlock said, “At present farmers who are doing the bulk of the work are at the back of the queue when it comes to benefitting financially from schemes. ICSA will be fighting to rectify this.”

Other priorities for Mr Sherlock include the restoration of ANC payments to pre austerity levels and “ensuring farmers with designated land are compensated for the loss of value to their holding.”

Mr Sherlock also said, “Managing flood risk will continue to be a priority for ICSA. We are pressing for additional pinch points and blockages to be cleared as well as better management of sluice gates. Too often we are witnessing the devastation caused to farmland by flooding and meaningful systems to alleviate the risk need to be implemented.”

Concluding Mr Sherlock spoke of the work he has been doing over the last number of years in supporting farmers struggling with rural isolation or financial debt. “ICSA has been striving to remove the stigma surrounding these issues. The work we have been doing is of tremendous benefit and I would like to reassure all our members of ICSA’s continued commitment in that regard.”

ENDS