By Maol Muire Tynan
9 September, 2001
Sunday Business Post Ireland
The Irish Farmers' Association has denied putting pressure on the Irish Farmers' Journal to pull an article that included criticism from farmers of IFA policy on the national road network and to reprint that section of the paper.
Farmers' Journal editor Matt Dempsey said he alone had decided not to run the article containing criticism by farmers of the association's handling of the controversial national road-building project. It is understood that the decision to reprint the section last week cost the newspaper about £20,000.
The farmers quoted in the article are annoyed that their views were not published. Tipperary dentist Dr Padraig Rhatigan, whose home is threatened by plans for the N7 motorway, told The Sunday Business Post, that while his views were carried in the Farmers' Journal, the original article had been "censored".
"A condition of my interview was that it would be part of an article principally concerning farmers. That agreement was not upheld and the subsequent censorship of the article is very worrying," he said.
The IFA is still in negotiations with the Department of the Environment over a compensation package for farmers.
The National Roads Authority is entitled to make compulsory purchase orders (CPO) on land required for road building, but North Tipperary farmers quoted in the original article said they were not interested in compensation and only wished to preserve their properties.
Tom Kennedy, who farms 120 acres in Toomevara, said the IFA was "not representing the views of farmers accurately".
"I am going to disaffiliate because I am so disillusioned," he said. "The IFA has the wrong end of the stick. This process will prove disastrous for farmers. The IFA says the road should go ahead. I believe it should be stopped.
"Ultimately my land, acquired by CPO, will benefit a private individual under the tolling system. Where is the public good element in that? I seriously question my membership of the IFA now. They are not responding to farmers' needs."
Dairy farmer Pat Kennedy also farms 280 acres with his brother in Toomevara. He says that his farm will become untenable if the new road cuts through his holding.
"No matter how much money is available in compensation, it will not make up for the loss of our livelihood," he said.
"Compensation is not part of our mentality. As far as I am concerned, we will just end up with a badly damaged asset. I can't reconcile the fact that the IFA is in favour of this construction project."
"A poor public image of farmers has been created by the IFA. Everyone says that farmers are only interested in compensation and are not capable of seeing beyond that," said Jim Cantwell.
An IFA spokesman said that talks between its general secretary, Michael Berkery, and the department in relation to a compensation package were continuing and a "working document" had been drawn up. It is understood that it may be some time before agreement is reached
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