Council backs farmers Enough Is Enough campaign

By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council meeting

Farmers from all parts of Co. Wexford brought their machinery to Carricklawn today where Wexford County Council held the monthly meeting as they rallied against over regulation and invasive restrictions forced on the everyday lives of farmers and won for support for the Enough Is Enough campaign.

A few public rallies have taken place recently in   the south-east, but the Chair of Wexford IFA Jer O’Mahony and fellow officials have been in discussions with Wexford County Council and Mr. O’Mahoney accepted an invitation to address the elected members today by Cathaoirleach Cllr John Fleming and he received a warm reception and universal support.

Mr O’Mahony said Wexford is the first county in Ireland – the first Council and first IFA Executive- to come together and meet with each other on the Enough is Enough campaign. “Jackie (Whelan- Fagan) and I have put together a protocol on inspections and we had meetings with Wexford County Council and got it over the line thanks to Carolyne (Godkin) and her team.” Mr O’Mahoney added that the IFA representatives sit on a few committees including the Environment Committee, the JPC and the LCDC.

Mr. O’Mahony believes that “if we are not in here talking to each other there is no point in being out there shouting because you are not going to listen to us and you are not going to hear us, but this way through the environment section a collaborative approach yields results.”

Mr O’Mahony expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to allow him to address the Council on issues that affect farmers. “We are here for farmers. We are here for farmers livelihoods. We are here for farmers wellbeing, and we are here for farm families,” said Mr O’Mahony, who added; “A farm is not an entity that stands on its own out in the countryside. There are people living there. There are families raised there. Children going to school there and everything that affects us with regards to the Department of Agriculture, including the green agenda, environment and housing, affects us, not just in monetary terms, but in our minds and in our hearts. Our farm is our castle.”      

Mr O’Mahony spoke of department officials coming onto a farm and outlined some of the obstacle’s farmers have to overcome on a daily and yearly basis starting with fines for incompletion of forms. “The Department didn’t tell you that you’ve done anything wrong until the day you get your payment. When your payment doesn’t turn up, and you call them, and they tell you that that you dotted your ‘i’ wrong!”

Cathaoirleach Cllr John Fleming thanked Mr O’Mahony and Jackie Whelan-Fagan for addressing the elected members although he didn’t allow individual contributions from the floor due to time constraints. A loud round of applause captured the strong support for the farming community and a promise to protect rural Ireland.