The Labour Party and Irish Agriculture

Dickie10

I know it sounds like the title of a dusty aul book but im just interested in the views of farmers and the Irish labour party.
historically I was of the opinion that the Labour party had the intrests of smaller irish farmers at its core, I know there was a guy called Dan Mc Carthy (I think), in the 60s and was well got by farmers but in the last 20 years I haven't even heard of Agriculture and the labour party being mentioned in the same breath.

Do they have an Ag spokesperson? with the fallout of the beef crisis and the disillusion of farmers with all parties I would have thought that the labour party would have got on board this agenda as a chance to break into the mainstream rural and agri communities. the way they are going they could be extinct in the next general election. I know its more extreme but would parties like Socalists and Sinn Fein not use Ag crisis as a sringboard to rural votes?
Is rural Ireland still adamant FG and FF? is there any reason why a left wing party could not do a lot for irish agriculture?

Panch18

Dickie10 wrote: »

I know it sounds like the title of a dusty aul book but im just interested in the views of farmers and the Irish labour party.
historically I was of the opinion that the Labour party had the intrests of smaller irish farmers at its core, I know there was a guy called Dan Mc Carthy (I think), in the 60s and was well got by farmers but in the last 20 years I haven't even heard of Agriculture and the labour party being mentioned in the same breath.

Do they have an Ag spokesperson? with the fallout of the beef crisis and the disillusion of farmers with all parties I would have thought that the labour party would have got on board this agenda as a chance to break into the mainstream rural and agri communities. the way they are going they could be extinct in the next general election. I know its more extreme but would parties like Socalists and Sinn Fein not use Ag crisis as a sringboard to rural votes?
Is rural Ireland still adamant FG and FF? is there any reason why a left wing party could not do a lot for irish agriculture?

Things might not be great in beef, tillage and sheep at the moment - but let me tell you 1 thing - if SF ever get there hand on power then farmers would only be longing for days like today

Dangerous with a capital D

Manach

The Labour Party does seem to draw its support from urban areas. It would not likely do anything to jeopardise that core and unfortunately there is always a perceived advantaged of a poltical other to be blamed for a failure of polices with the rural landowners playing the dupe. For instance in prior lobbying efforts in rambling rights.

ganmo

Labour are in the happy position where they don't need to be concerned with farmers. Sf have copped that if they want to get into power the farmer vote is a sizeable number but if they do get into power god knows what would happen, would they maintain their populist agenda or be responsible in power.

Who in labour would be a potentional minister of Ag?

5live

Dickie10 wrote: »

I know it sounds like the title of a dusty aul book but im just interested in the views of farmers and the Irish labour party.
historically I was of the opinion that the Labour party had the intrests of smaller irish farmers at its core, I know there was a guy called Dan Mc Carthy (I think), in the 60s and was well got by farmers but in the last 20 years I haven't even heard of Agriculture and the labour party being mentioned in the same breath.

Do they have an Ag spokesperson? with the fallout of the beef crisis and the disillusion of farmers with all parties I would have thought that the labour party would have got on board this agenda as a chance to break into the mainstream rural and agri communities. the way they are going they could be extinct in the next general election. I know its more extreme but would parties like Socalists and Sinn Fein not use Ag crisis as a sringboard to rural votes?
Is rural Ireland still adamant FG and FF? is there any reason why a left wing party could not do a lot for irish agriculture?

This lady appears to be the senior person on agriculture in Labour atm

http://www.labour.ie/annphelan/

On Agriculture and the Labour party, you would have to mention Willie Penrose, whom i had the pleasure of meeting once but has done some very heavy lifting on Ag policy in the past and is quite active still on the legal aspects of Agriculture.

http://www.labour.ie/williepenrose/

There would still be a strong rural base and support in areas of the country for labour candidates despite some of the frankly loopy statements of some south Dublin based TDs(yes Ruairi Quinn, i am looking at you:eek:)

Willfarman

I would perceive the Labour Party to be adamantly in favour of the career long term welfare spongers and with nothing but hostile inclinations with regard to farmers.

hfallada

Its extremely hard to find out Labour policies, that arent concerned with the interest of working class people living in urban areas. They seem to spend a majority of time talking about protecting welfare, but barely any time is spent on implementing policies to get unemployed people back to work. I cant imagine them being too concerned with interest of farmers, they dont represent their key demography