Thomas Lyons The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has criticised the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, for signing off on changes to scheme payment dates as far back as February. According to the association, this fact was made known to farming organisations at the most recent meeting of the Farmers’ Charter. Pat McCormack, the ICMSA president, said he was “shocked” by the revelation, criticising what he called a “charade of consultation”.
Last month, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine wrote to farmers to confirm new payment dates, after originally informing farm organisations of its plan to do so at a Farmers’ Charter meeting earlier in March. But according to the ICMSA, Minister McConalogue had already signed off on the changes the previous month. The department informed farmers that payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme will be pushed back by a month to October 17, while the payment for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) – which replaces the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) – will be made from October 24.
Speaking this morning (Friday, April 14), McCormack said: “Not alone did [the department] not inform the farm organisations at the meeting in early March that this was the case, but instead continued with a charade that this was still part of negotiations.” He added: “The tactic was cheap and unworthy and it [would have been] preferable… to dispense with the notion of consultation altogether than to continue with this charade.
“Farmers are still no wiser as to why the department has changed the payment dates that it must have known are critical for farmer payment schedules. McConalogue called on the minister to make a statement setting out his reasoning for the changes and the sequence of events that led up to his signing off on the new payment dates. “[We have] always tried to show proper respect and act in good faith. That’s why we think we are entitled to ask for the same in return, for ourselves and for all farmers. That has categorically not been the case on this issue,” McCormack said.
“We have been treated very shabbily and, bluntly, unless the minister has some valid reasoning that he can explain, then we think it would be better to just abandon the Farmers’ Charter than allow it to continue in this devalued state. The process needs to have its credibility restored and the only person that can do that is the person who destroyed its credibility,” McCormack remarked, in reference to Minister McConalogue.”
The ICMSA has called for transparency and proper consultation from the department in relation to changes to scheme payment dates. The association claims that the department did not inform farming organisations of the changes until after they had been signed off by the minister, which they believe undermines the credibility of the Farmers’ Charter.
The Farmers’ Charter is a voluntary code of conduct that aims to ensure transparency and fairness in the relationship between farmers and the department. It was introduced in 2019 following a series of protests by farmers over low prices and poor market conditions.
The ICMSA has accused the department of undermining the spirit of the Farmers’ Charter by failing to consult with farming organisations on important issues such as scheme payment dates. The association argues that farmers rely on these payments to manage their cash flow and plan their business operations.
The department has defended its decision to change the payment dates, citing administrative reasons for the delay. It has also pointed out that the new payment dates will ensure that farmers receive their payments before the end of the year, which will help to support their cash flow.
However, the ICMSA has called on the minister to explain his reasoning for the changes and to provide a clear timeline of events leading up to the decision. The association has also called for greater transparency and consultation in future decisions that affect farmers.
The controversy over the changes to scheme payment dates highlights the ongoing tensions between farmers and the department over issues such as pricing, market conditions and environmental regulations. The Farmers’ Charter was designed to address some of these issues and to provide a framework for constructive dialogue between farmers and the department.
However, the ICMSA’s criticism of the department’s handling of the changes to scheme payment dates suggests that there is still work to be done to build trust and transparency between farmers and the department. The minister’s response to the ICMSA’s concerns will be closely watched by the farming community, as it will be seen as a test of his commitment to the principles of the Farmers’ Charter.
In conclusion, the ICMSA’s criticism of the department’s handling of the changes to scheme payment dates highlights the need for greater transparency and consultation in future decisions that affect farmers. The Farmers’ Charter was designed to provide a framework for constructive dialogue between farmers and the department, and it is important that this framework is respected and upheld. The minister’s response to the ICMSA’s concerns will be closely watched by the farming community, as it will be seen as a test of his commitment to the principles of the Farmers’ Charter.
