Press Room

As Social Partnership talks with farming organisations from the Agricultural Pillar continue at Government Buildings today (Saturday, 17 June), Macra na Feirme national president Colm Markey said that while some progress had been made, there was still a long way to go in terms of securing an agreement on agriculture.

The young farmer leader said that his organisation would in particular be holding out for enhanced measures for young farmers including improvements to the Early Retirement Scheme and Installation Aid Scheme.

Mr Markey said that while the Government were putting a push on to get the talks completed by Saturday evening, Macra na Feirme would not be willing to come away from the talks unless a fair deal was agreed which would secure a viable future for young farmers in the years ahead.

'One of the biggest challenges facing the industry going forward is the dearth of young people willing to take up farming as a career. It's never been more important to encourage young people into farming and to do that we need to ensure that young people see agriculture as an attractive, rewarding and financially viable career option,' he added.

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