Michael Healy-Rae: 'If I wasn’t a politician I’d be machine driver'

Now that Michael Healy-Rae is in Government and plays a role in overseeing a department pivotal to the farming community, he feels that he can implement real change for the better so all stakeholders can move forward after the issues with schemes like Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and getting Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) approval for machinery.

TAMS approval

Fergal O’Sullivan (FOS): Minister, do you understand the problems for our machinery dealers and farmers nationwide with the TAMS process and how long it is taking to get approval when trying to purchase farm equipment?

Michael Healy-Rae (MHR): I most certainly do. It is taking far too long currently, and both Minister Heydon and I want to maintain this vital funding for farmers from Europe.

But we also want to reduce the red tape involved as we understand the frustration caused for all stakeholders.

It is genuinely a job in hand, but my aim is reducing the timeframe; to streamline it better and improve it for everyone so it’s not such an ordeal and I really hope to achieve this soon and help the Irish machinery manufacturers, dealers and farmers all progress.

FOS: Would you be in favour of getting agricultural contractors approved as they are doing a lot of work on farms – whether it’s slurry, spreading fertiliser for example, and lots more besides?

MHR: I can’t commit to that right now unfortunately because this is seen as a grey area and involves the famous word called ‘displacement’.

For example, if you invented a new type of tyre that never wore out, you can get a grant to help you develop it, but if you wanted to sell tyres in the morning you can’t because you would be in direct opposition to another fella that didn’t get a grant selling tyres.

I want to use this type of analogy, and you must remember we in Government are very aware of the valuable work that our agricultural contractors are doing and I really cherish the work and service they provide to our farmers.

We must be so careful of supporting a business for commercial reasons and remember I’m a contractor too myself and do work for farmers.

I have listened to the arguments from various contractors, and I do understand the argument they make for this, and we are very aware of it.

Contractors and the service they provide is changing rapidly so who knows what the future will bring, but I won’t make promises either that I can’t keep.

EU policy

FOS: A bugbear for farmers is the constant moving of the goalposts by policy-makers in the EU, such as restrictions on slurry spreading, extra storage capacity and the nitrates directive coupled with paperwork and delayed ACRES payments. It is extremely frustrating for farmers right now and won’t help encourage young people into the sector.

Can you realistically implement change whereby farmers are not constantly having to meet new targets and then hit with unforeseen financial burdens to comply?

MHR: Firstly, I genuinely have a great working relationship with Minister Heydon, and I respect him an awful lot and I’m not just saying that. Also, I have great time for TDs Noel Grealish and Timmy Dooley and I’m very happy working with those people. Our thoughts are all aligned, and we are all singing off the same hymn sheet which is very important.

People must realise we are trying to work within the constraints of Europe and what is legally binding to us, what the State is married to whether we like it or not. I have very strong views on the environment and what I see as the ‘hit’ to farmers as I believe the farmers here in this country are the real custodians of the land and the real ‘green’ party.

I’m not opposed to the environment and love to see nature thrive, but it’s the red tape that has us all bound up and the policies and procedures where I can see the genuine frustration. Farmers don’t need to be constantly told what to do as they are the people working with the land every day and this knowledge is passed down from generation to generation.

That’s why we have the world-renowned Irish food sector and very successful companies were built up from this and I hope to make a difference here with my role going forward.

Slurry spreading

FOS: Do you understand the irritation with calendar farming and the restriction to certain dates and when good weather passes by where land is in great order and then a week’s rain and you cannot spread?

MHR: Any practical, sensible measures we can implement that are within the constraints of Europe and that will help farmers, I will fight to get.

The other ministers also in Government – despite what some people may think – are also for the betterment of Irish farmers and if we can activate extensions etc to help farmers, we will once it’s within the laws of Europe.

Carbon tax on fuel

FOS: Farmers have invested in modern machinery with all types of expensive emissions devices under the bonnet, yet they have then been hit with a blanket carbon tax on fuel, does this make any sense?

MHR: Not only do I not agree with this carbon tax on diesel fuel, but I also don’t agree with AdBlue either, as far as I can see it’s another form of tax.

I see firsthand myself new machines derating and losing power and so on, so it causes huge headaches for the owners and operators and drives up costs. As I said, we are bound to Europe on certain legislation; this is something unfortunately we just cannot change but I personally don’t agree with it.

Farm safety

MHR: The one thing about machinery – no matter what type of machine it is – nothing is more important than the protection of yourself and your staff. I want to stress this to everyone involved in farming and machinery businesses right across Ireland: be very diligent.

Contracting now is very different than it was 30 years ago with the size of tractors and trailers on the road and the speed they can move, what I’d say to farmers is to be meticulous.

And just taking road traffic management for example; if farmers and contractors can implement a plan and be wary of routes, dangerous junctions, clearing overgrowth blinding entry and exit points to fields and small farm roadways.

FOS: What do you hope to achieve here during your term around farm safety?

MHR: Well, we are all aware of the deaths that have occurred on Irish farms up and down the country over the years and I really would love to reduce them.

Currently it’s just far too high and this just must change. Not only this, but it’s the thousands of injuries that happen on farms annually and some of these injuries are life-changing. I want to keep hammering home to people this farm safety message.

Building sites, for example, are very safe in Ireland now. There are safety regulations, and you won’t be allowed on them without proper training and awareness. All this has led to a complete change of culture within the construction industry across the board.

It’s not that we want to implement more paperwork onto farmers and contractors, but we all need to play our part to change the culture so that safety is the number one priority and second to this is getting the silage cut, the slurry spread, or the corn sown.

It starts with the simple things, and we need farmers to think more about PPE, like steel-toe-cap boots, so that when handling cattle up close their feet aren’t as vulnerable.

To get this message out there I’m putting more money into farm safety and this Government is very supportive of every measure, like training young people on operating farm machinery and more awareness.

Final thoughts

FOS: Rural Ireland is under pressure for many reasons; many feel it has been forgotten completely. Farmers argue that agriculture is unfairly targeted and tagged with this high-pollution badge when the carbon sequestration from trees and hedgerows on Irish farms isn’t even accounted for. What do you say to all this?

MHR: It’s utter nonsense the figures of emissions being thrown up on top of Irish farmers. We need to push back as a community and highlight the truth; Irish farming has some of the best sustainable practices happening. When people make all this noise, they forget what’s being provided by the farmers here and what’s been put up on their table.

We need to support local employment; help incentivise rural enterprises and encourage young people back from abroad which is also key.

Great progress is being made now to help them with planning, I have asked the Department to come up with every imaginable type of scheme that’s worthwhile to help rural Ireland and if it is of value and hits the mark even the Taoiseach himself, to his credit, said he will back it.

We are genuinely looking at every technology and source of income that brings value to farmers, the rural economy from AD (anaerobic digestor) plants, willow/miscanthus, biochar, biofertilisers, biofuels etc, to generate rural jobs. There is a drive with research centres, universities to look at reducing our reliance on imports and converting our own waste into higher value products to suit local needs.

We are looking at robotics as there is a labour shortage like for the horticulture sector, increasing the awareness of our own high-quality food and local dishes rather than foreign cuisine based on cheap imports.

No stone is being left unturned to help turn things around and I can personally assure people of that.