Fine Gael continuing to fully engage with farmers affected by the beef crisis – Hopkins

*Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine visits Roscommon to discuss beef crisis with local farmers

Fine Gael candidate for the Roscommon/South Leitrim bye-election, Cllr Maura Hopkins, has said her party was continuing to fully engage on the beef crisis issue with farmers on the ground.

Yesterday, Cllr Hopkins and Deputy Frank Feighan were joined in Roscommon by Deputy Andrew Doyle, Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Deputy Doyle made a special visit to the county to listen to the concerns of farmers affected by the beef crisis.

“I would like to sincerely thank Deputy Doyle for visiting Roscommon and Elphin Marts in order to listen to farmers and how the consequences of the current crisis is seriously affecting livelihoods.

“Fine Gael is being proactive on the issue and by bringing the Chairperson of an Oireachtas Joint Committee to Roscommon, we are continuing to highlight at national level the importance of resolving this issue.

“The big concerns which emerged in our discussions yesterday with local farmers centred on the limited flexibility relating to movement, age and weight – all three which are combining to have a detrimental impact on farmers’ incomes.

“As a farmer himself, Deputy Doyle has a clear empathy with farmers and fully understands the need to keep the pressure on all stakeholders to press for more flexibility in these key areas.

“Deputy Doyle made it very clear that he would be bringing the concerns of Roscommon and Leitrim farmers not only to his committee but would also be raising them with Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and his Government colleagues.” 

Contact Richard Canny
0868168900