Policy Proposal for YFG Conference 2000 -  Workshop on Agriculture: Sat. 26th February, 2:00pm

 Please note: The following document is not the final position of Young Fine Gael until it is accepted by the members of YFG at National Conference.

Above: John Fagan

 YFG National Executive.

Introduction

“ I do not deny that I am an optimist …. What harm is there in hoping? Many of my hopes may not come off, but a significant percentage of them will, to make a mighty change in the agriculture of this country, with help of God”.

James Dillon, Dail Debates, July 1948.

In the last 15 years over 70,000 farmers have left the land and future predictions have indicated that the current figure of c. 150,000 farmers will fall to between 110,000 and 130,000 farmers by 2005.

A career in agriculture is no longer an attractive prospect for many.

Factors such as off-farm career opportunities, and the damage done by the BSE crisis has led to an increasing level of uncertainty among farming communities as to the future of a sustainable income from farming.

If we are to be committed to creating sustainable jobs in Irish Industry then we should also be willing to invest the same in those who want to pursue a career in Agriculture.

Young people are also needed by their communities.

Very often they are left with no other option but to migrate to towns and cities in search of work as there is currently little for a young person who does not want a career in farming. Furthermore there is little incentive for a multinational company to locate outside of our cities because of labour shortages and poor infrastructure.

 

 

It is against this depressing background that the following resolutions have been proposed.

Resolution 1:

Young Fine Gael calls on the government to give young people a real alternative to leaving the countryside through overhauling the delivery of services in rural areas and radically improving the social and physical infrastructure of rural Ireland.

Resolution 2:

Young Fine Gael believes that the Installation Aid Scheme for young farmers should be immediately increased to a total of £12,000, being made available to an eligible applicant over a five year period.

Resolution 3:

Young Fine Gael believes that all taxes incurred on the transfer of land between parent and child should be abolished. This includes Stamp Duty, Probate Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

Resolution 4:

Young Fine Gael calls for the provision for new entrants into farming of Farm Development Loans up to a maximum of £30,000 which will be subject to a special rate interest rate discount of 3% per annum.

Resolution 5:

Young Fine Gael believes that all full-time farmers should be subject to 12.5% income tax.

Resolution 6:

Young Fine Gael believes that the government should secure the future of the beef industry through funding the development of farmer- owned meat factories in association with the farming organisations.

Resolution 7:

Young Fine Gael believe that Consumers should always be able to compare prices paid to beef producers by meat processors with shelf prices at retail outlets.

Resolution 8:

Young Fine Gael calls for the nationwide introduction of the Farm Relief Farm Operator Ring service. This initiative would provide additional skilled assistance for farmers on a flexible basis. Its success has already being demonstrated by the Laois Farm Relief Service which has enabled farm family members with some spare time to supplement their income by meeting the skills requirements on other farms. This, furthermore, goes some way to address the issue of labour shortages in rural areas.

Resolution 9:

Young Fine Gael believe that all old age pensioners should be entitled to free alarm and security systems in both rural and urban areas. This would go a long way to prevent crimes against elderly people allowing the senior citizens of this country to feel more secure in their homes.