Ó Cuív wants to hit IFA in pocket for ‘selling out’ on west’s farmers

Fianna Fáil Agriculture spokesman, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív is on a collision course with the IFA after accusing them of working hand in glove with the Minister for Agriculture to shape the new CAP in favour of a minority of big farmers.  

Deputy Ó Cuív says this is at the expense of the vast majority of farmers – not alone in the West, but throughout the country.  

And in challenging the IFA, Deputy Ó Cuív has devised a campaign that could potentially lead to a loss of hundreds of thousands of euro in the organisations funds every year.

In a long-standing arrangement the IFA gets a levy paid to it on the sale of livestock at marts and factories; it is taken out of the sale price.  This applies to all animals unless the owner specifically requests that his stock is not subject to the levy. 

There is a small percentage payment on each individual transaction and there are different permutations.  However, some estimates suggest it could work out at about a euro per beast, per transaction.  It appears that many farmers have not noticed that such a charge exists. 

In launching the campaign in Clifden this week to get farmers to withdraw from this arrangement Deputy Ó Cuív said that the IFA is not a friend to the small and average farmer. 

“In my opinion the IFA does not deserve this levy from the majority of Irish farmers, and the organisation’s stance as regards the application of the new Common Agriculture Policy in Ireland is a case in point,” he said.

Éamon Ó Cuív explained that withdrawing approval for the payments to the IFA is a straightforward process; a two sentence letter with the name and address of the farmer and the herd number. 

Deputy Ó Cuív provided copies of these letters in Clifden and a substantial number of those present signed them. 

These letters set in train a process where the IFA will be obliged to reply to the farmer confirming that the levy will not be taken; it also obliges the organisation to write to the marts and factories advising them not to take the percentage from prices. Deputy Ó Cuív said this campaign would be extended across the country.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.