Sherlock calls for establishmnent of Agricultural Task Force
Issued : Friday 27 March, 2009
Statement by Sean Sherlock TD
Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation and Department of Education & Skills with responsibility for Research & Innovation
Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture & Food Seán Sherlock TD has called for the creation of an Agricultural Task Force comprising a cross section of stakeholders from the Agri sector to assess the future of agriculture
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Mulligar, Deputy Sherlock said:
"At a time when the Co-Operative movement is going through a period of uncertainty and with the collapse of milk prices and the abolition of quotas in 2015, it is vital we establish a strategic task force set up to plan for the long term sustainability and development of the Agri sector
"Agricultural policy has for too long been determined by short term thinking and the time is now right to implement a ten or twenty year plan if Ireland is to remain competitive as a food producing nation.
"The Co-Operative movement in particular needs to reassess its goals. Decisions such as those taken by former CEO of Dairygold Jerry Henchy which lacked foresight and vision will have to be guarded against
"I am proposing a task force comprising of farming organisations such as Agri-Aware, Teagasc and agricultural academics who would look at the preservation and growth of the family farm, track trends in global agricultural output and plan for the next WTO round of talks.
"The traditional relationship between Farming organisations, the Minister for Agriculture and traditional lobbying methods should be enhanced by a broader view consisting of more shareholders."
