IFA president accuses Walsh of `zero delivery'

The Minister for Agriculture and Food was accused of "zero delivery" to the State's 45,000 sheep farmers at a protest rally in…

The Minister for Agriculture and Food was accused of "zero delivery" to the State's 45,000 sheep farmers at a protest rally in Roscommon on Saturday.

The allegation was made by Mr Tom Parlon, president of the Irish Farmers' Association, when he addressed over 1,000 farmers at the rally.

Mr Parlon said that Mr Walsh, half-way through the term of this Government, had failed to deliver on pre-election promises to the vulnerable sheep sector.

"After Agenda 2000, he came home empty handed as far as sheep farmers are concerned. It is time for him to prove he is up to the job and fight for the rights of the sheep farmers," he said.

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Mr Parlon added that the way the ewe premium was calculated in Brussels completely discriminated against Irish producers, who had already lost £35 million compared to other European countries.

Mr Frank Corcoran, chairman of the IFA's national sheep committee, said the ewe premium had not increased since last year and farmers were selling their produce at the prices they received in the mid-1980s.

He said lamb prices had collapsed and were down £8-10 per head on last year.

The rally, attended by farmers' representatives from Scotland and Northern Ireland, was told that the Minister had refused an invitation to address the meeting and instead sent Mr Michael Kitt TD.

Following the rally, Mr Parlon, along with senior officials from the IFA, including Mr Michael Berkery, the general secretary of the organisation, met with farmer-creditors of Stanlow Trading Ltd which was set up by Mr John Ellis TD and his brothers in 1985.

Following the one-hour private meeting with the farmers who are owed £300,000 for cattle following the collapse of the company in 1986, Mr Parlon said he would be demanding another meeting with Mr Ellis early this week.

He said the creditors' committee had been revamped and included two new members. The committee had decided to pursue the claim through negotiation rather than through legal challenges.

Mr Parlon said the committee was also looking at the possibility of extending its activities to the Isle of Man where Mr Richard Ellis, a brother of the TD, is in residence.