In a comment on the Finance Bill, IFA President John Bryan said that the Bill contained some positive measures as regards the calculation of the Income Levy and the provision of relief from the 80% Windfall Tax on the sale of single sites.However, the Government has maintained the unfair level of Carbon Tax on Farm Diesel announced in the Budget.John Bryan said, “ Relief from the Income Levy will be granted in relation to Capital [...]  Read More...

Addressing a national pig farmers meeting in Portlaoise this evening, IFA President John Bryan said the delay in introducing country-of-origin labelling was undermining local producers and deliberately misleading consumers.Mr Bryan said, “retailers are exploiting the lack of regulation in this area to sell products that do not match the standards met by local producers. Consumers who want to support Irish producers are being hoodwinked [...]  Read More...

IFA President John Bryan and National Sheep Chairman James Murphy met the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith on sheep in Dublin. Minister Smith reaffirmed to the IFA his decision that €18m in unused CAP funds have been ring-fenced for the sheep sector and will be paid out in 2010. The Minister said he is finalising the payment details and arrangements and will make an announcement by the end of this month.John Bryan said the [...]  Read More...

IFA Rural Development Chairman Tom Turley has called for an immediate resolution to the problems, which are holding up the processing of hardship applications under the Early Retirement Scheme.Mr. Turley said that last September the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith re-opened the ERS for the hardship cases that were locked out following the October 2008 Budget decision to suspend the scheme. By the end of October 2009 expiry date, [...]  Read More...

IFA President John Bryan has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith to provide financial assistance to growers who have suffered serious crop losses as a result of the worst winter weather conditions in a generation during January.John Bryan said while full details of the scheme are not yet available, growers who have suffered substantial losses will need worthwhile aid to help them get back on their [...]  Read More...