The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has welcomed ratification of the new Social Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, by four of main the farming organisations.
While the other social partners approved the remaining elements of the deal several months ago, negotiations with the IFA, ICMSA, the co-op group ICOS and Macra na Feirme on the Agriculture Chapter of the Agreement continued over the autumn months.
Mr Ahern said the outcome of several months of negotiations is a package of measures that aims to ensure a strong, viable and competitive agriculture sector in Ireland in the years ahead.
He added that this is particularly important in the context of a ten-year social partnership framework.
The Taoiseach said the Agriculture Chapter envisages building on the Government's Agrivision 2015 Plan.
