Minister welcomes the first meeting of Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming
- Published on: 7 November 2024
- Last updated on: 8 January 2025
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D,, today welcomed the members at the first meeting of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming. Mr. Aidan O’Driscoll is chairing the Commission, which is examining the complex factors involved in Generational Renewal.
Minister McConalogue said:
“I am pleased that the first meeting of the Commission has now taken place, and I was delighted to meet with the members, each of whom are bringing valuable skills and knowledge to the group. I have thanked the Commission members for their commitment to this important task and wished them success in their work.
“We have many supports in place for young farmers; through the CAP, the taxation system, access to finance, and in the range of educational and advisory supports from Teagasc. However, I have asked the Commission to consider whether these existing measures are effective in encouraging young people into farming or if they should be adjusted.
“I welcome that, with the publication of the final report of the Commissions Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture - that notes generational renewal as one of its key recommendations - there will be increased emphasis on the very important issue in the time ahead at European level. The current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) also cites generational renewal as one of its nine key objectives and as the European Commission is expected to publish its proposals for a post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy during 2025, I believe that this is an appropriate time to consider this issue at a national level.”
Minister McConalogue concluded:
“Public and stakeholder consultations will be a central part of this process and I would ask anyone with an interest in this issue to engage with the consultation process when it is launched. I look forward to a full assessment of Generational Renewal in farming and a report on options being completed before the end of quarter 2, 2025”.
ENDS
Photo Caption: LtoR: Dr. Emma Dillion, Economist and Senior Research Officer with the Teagasc National Farm Survey; Aidan O’Driscoll, Chair, Commision on Generational Renewal on Farming; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD: Prof. Thia Hennessy, Head of the College of Business and Law at UCC; Aisling Meehan, Solicitor, tax consultant, farmer and memebr of Women in Agriculture Working Group; Seán Bell, Principal Officer of Economics and Planning at the Department of agriculture, Food and the Marine; Trevor Boland Accountant, currently farming a Teagasc Signpost Beef Farm in a Registered Farm Partnership, Thomas Duffy, dairy farmer, former President of Macra na Feirme, former Vice President of European Young Farmers Association, current independent chair of Teagasc Signpost Steering Committee; Brendan Gleeson, Secretary General at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Notes to Editor:
The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between society and agriculture that ensures a stable supply of food, safeguards farmers’ income, protects the environment and keeps rural areas vibrant. EU countries implement the CAP at national level with a tailored CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.