Sir, - Perhaps it was too much to hope for that the IFA and the farmers might have remained grateful to the Irish public for just a little longer for the magnificent support, they received during the foot-and-mouth crisis. But all too quickly, the IFA has swung into action with its fresh financial demands on the Irish taxpayer, forgetting entirely the enormous debt it owes that much put-upon entity.
This is the same IFA which for years resisted the sheep-tagging which, if it had existed, would have greatly reduced the VAT/headage payment scams that subsequently came to light and would also have minimised the illegal movement of animals which was such a major contributory factor in the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Ireland.
When this is coupled with recent demands (do they ever just ask nicely?) from farmers from the Cooley Peninsula (infamous for its thousands of grant-aided, non-existent sheep) for extra compensation, it is no wonder the Irish public is stunned into silence at this latest example of bare-faced effrontery from our farming sector.
If any one thing emerged from the recent scare it is that things can never be the same again regarding the governance of Irish agriculture.
Our politicians must take responsibility and resist resolutely further financial demands from the cheque-in-the-post, money-for-nothing compo culture that seems currently to be the essence of our farming community.
Given past performance, I won't be holding my breath. I will, however, await the next demands from the IFA, namely capital gains tax exemptions for those farmers who subsequently sell their now hugely valuable land adjacent to motorways, and of course compensation for farmers whose land is not required for compulsory purchase orders. - Yours, etc.,
Paul MacCarthy, Ballyroan Heights, Dublin 16.