Watched by his wife Rena and children Cathy and James he set out four main priorities for his term in office and he has set himself some tough goals.


He wants to increase prices paid to farmers across all sectors; to reduce costs and bureaucracy; pay farmers properly under the new rural environment protection scheme (REPS) and to protect the Single Farm Payment.


The Clara native said he was taking office after a horrendous year for farmers - when incomes suffered their worst decline since Ireland entered the EU.


“Farming and the agri-food sector have been hammered in this recession. The depreciation of sterling against the Euro and the totally unjust treatment of primary producers by retailers have added greatly to our difficulties,” he pointed out.


He said over-regulation, and the Government’s failure to go far enough in driving down costs and restoring national competitiveness, have compounded the problems faced by Irish farmers and Agri business.


However, the new President stressed that: “Agriculture can and will contribute to Ireland’s economic recovery. But the Government must do its job and back agriculture for the future.”


Price

“For our important role as food producers, farmers need a minimum price from the market place to cover our costs of production and derive a fair income. Retailers, processors and marketeers have clearly failed to return a price capable of providing a viable income for family farmers in all the main sectors.”


“The discounting of Irish food produce is being done at the expense of farmers, while the multiples protect their margins and boost their corporate profits. This is daylight robbery and an affront to any fair sense of corporate responsibility. This corporate greed and contempt for the men and women who produce our food must be addressed.”


He said politicians at home and in Europe must rebalance the food marketing chain, through legislation if necessary, to ensure that farm families can get a viable income from the marketplace.


“As Ireland’s largest indigenous export sector, it is critical that vital on-farm investment in agriculture is maintained. Schemes such as REPS, Disadvantaged Areas and the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, are vital to maintaining farming and supporting economic activity throughout rural Ireland.”


He said REPS contributes hugely to improving the environment and enhancing biodiversity through the creation of new habitats. He stressed the new REPS scheme must provide an average payment equivalent to REPS 4.


Restoring competitiveness


On costs, Mr Bryan said restoring business competitiveness must be a priority for Government. This is particularly important for our exporting agri-food sector. Government-controlled costs, including energy, waste, labour and bureaucracy, must be reduced.


He described the new carbon tax as trade-distorting.