New President of ICSA

Edmond Phelan has been elected ICSA National President at a meeting of the association’s National Executive in Portlaoise on Thursday. Following the vote Mr Phelan said he intends to act on the major challenges facing the sector without delay. “We don’t have a moment to spare when it comes to preventing a disastrous Mercosur trade deal for Irish beef farmers or when it comes to delivering on the €100m EU beef fund,” he said.

 

Hailing from Fenor, Co Waterford where he runs a beef enterprise, Mr Phelan is a former beef chair of ICSA. He will take up his position as ICSA president immediately.

 

Mr Phelan said: “ICSA is vehemently opposed to any Mercosur deal that includes a tariff rate quota for beef. Not only would it be economically devastating for Irish beef farmers, it is also farcical that the EU should expect Irish farmers to adopt a broad array of climate change measures while they ignore the massive climate change and environmental downsides of importing vast quantities of beef from South America. The Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture has this week backed that position. ICSA will now be pushing for this backing to translate into the deal being voted down when it comes before the Dáil.

 

In a close vote tonight, Mr Phelan narrowly defeated ICSA Animal Health & Welfare chair Hugh Farrell and the association’s Vice President for Munster Dermot Kelleher.

 

Mr Phelan described it as an honour to have been elected to lead the association and said he was privileged to work with outstanding colleagues in the association. “Their dedication to defending the rights of farmers around the country is second to none and I am proud to be part of a great team. It’s time to get on with the job now,” he said.