Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Peter Zvonar
Phil Hogan

Farmers claim farm deaths are 'due to all kinds of human error and animal unpredictability'

Suggestions by Phil Hogan about withholding grant funding over farm safety have been criticised.

PROPOSED CUTS TO grants given to farms with deficient safety standards have been criticised by Irish farmers.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ISCA) has said that the move “doesn’t make sense” and will impede farmers’ ability to improve farm safety.

This comes as a response to warning from the EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan that farmers could potentially lose grants if they fail to come up to standard.

Deaths

Last year 30 deaths occurred on farms around Ireland – the highest recorded number for more than two decades.

These deaths have included three children under the age of sixteen and nine adults over the age of 65.

Phil Hogan has made comments today that farmers could potentially lose their share of grants worth €1.2 billion if they fail to comply with more stringent measures.

Hogan is set to meet leaders from the Irish Farmers’ Association in Dublin tomorrow as part of his first official engagement in Ireland since taking over the position of Agriculture Commissioner.

Criticism

Speaking about the move to impose tougher safety restrictions, the President of the ISCA Patrick Kent, said:

The reality is that many farm accidents occur not as a result of obviously dangerous facilities but due to all kinds of human error and animal unpredictability.
The reality too is that accidents on farms happen because the returns from farming simply do not allow for more than one person to work on most farms and farmers are under immense pressure to get work done.

Kent went on to suggest that taking the grant away from farmers would simply make it more difficult to fund upgrades going forward.

The move was also criticised by independent TD Mattie McGrath, who said that the move by Hogan would be “premature and insulting” and that financial penalties are not an effective way to encourage greater care.

McGrath goes on to say that he believes Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney’s approach of ring fencing €12 million to implement farm safety initiatives is a “much more productive and practical way to approach this issue.”

Read: Farmers urged to be careful after record deaths in 2014

Also: Children under 7 to be banned from tractors

Your Voice
Readers Comments
23
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.