Tom Parlon, Addressing the AGM
The newly reinstated president of the Irish Farmers' Association, Tom Parlon, has said that the organisation has come through the challenges of the past month stronger and more confident than ever. Mr Parlon was speaking after his formal re-election as President of the IFA at its Annual General Meeting in Dublin. He also said that the new National Agreement had been bought at a high price, and the IFA would carefully monitor its impact.
Tom Parlon said that he would do everything possible to maintain what he called "the positive public image of farming" that was established by last month's blockade of meat factories. Mr Parlon told the AGM that consumers had been able to see for themselves how farmers were receiving an ever-decreasing share of the retail price of beef. Mr Parlon said that January 2000 was a new milestone in the history of the IFA and that the Association is determined never again to be taken advantage of by beef processing factories. Mr Parlon resigned as President during the blockade.
This AGM was to have been held in mid-January, but was deferred because the nationwide blockade of beef plants was underway. It has been scaled back from a two to a one-day event. Addressing delegates today, Tom Parlon said that, during the exceptional events of the two weeks campaign, farmers on the blockade acted with intelligence and dignity. He said that, while IFA had won the battle, he said that they must remain vigilant to win the war on beef prices. Mr Parlon said that, while the law was against the IFA, the basic justice of the farmers' case brought public support for farmers to a level not seen since the 1960s.
Dealing with the new national partnership programme, Mr Parlon said that the pay side of the deal is inflationary and will impose extra costs all round, including food processing. He said that these additional costs will have to be met from efficiencies and the IFA would be vigilant in monitoring the overall impact of the agreement.
However, he said that he was very conscious that the agreement had been bought at a very high price. Delegates are expected to congratulate Mr Parlon on the outcome of the dispute with the meat plants. However, there are indications that the blockade has affected exports, with some foreign buyers complaining about increased prices and the break in continuity of supply.
Mr Parlon also called on the banks to restructure debts for pig farmers because of their ongoing financial difficulties. Mr Parlon said that the banks should allow a moratorium on interest payments for six months. The IFA leader also called on the Minister for Agriculture to negotiate new EU regulations for the sheep sector to take account of the difficulties amongst Irish sheep farmers.
