Retaining young farmers in agriculture is an issue that needs to be resolved immediately by the incoming Government according to Independent candidate in Roscommon-Galway Michael Fitzmaurice.
“It is very disappointing to report that after 15 months of highlighting the plight of the ‘forgotten farmer’ no resolution has been found to that issue and I am once again appealing to the new Minister for Agriculture to address this problem immediately on taking office”
“I have been following up on this issue since I was elected and I set up meetings which were held in Portlaoise but yet nothing has happened. I attended a meeting in Athlone on Sunday and all interested parties were in attendance and spoke on the matter. One thing we have to remember is that if we don’t keep young farmers in agriculture then we will not have a viable future. A lot of our small farmers are elderly and we need new young blood to drive the agricultural sector forward. Sadly Minister Coveney has drawn up restrictions which is preventing that taking place and the incoming Government must address this issue. I am giving a commitment that if I am elected and have a chance of being part of the new Government that this issue will be resolved” he concluded.