The
Government plans a re-orientation of farm taxation to ensure farmers are willing to embark on long-term investment in their farms and to address the challenges facing agriculture in Ireland, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney.
Mr Coveney said that Irish agriculture is facing an exciting time with the removal of the milk quota system but also one of great change and the Government is anxious to introduce a progressive taxation system for farmers to help them meet the challenges ahead.
"Michael Noonan and I have put a team of people in place to look at all of these measures and to look at ways in which we can re-orientate agri-taxation – this will maintain the actual financial benefits that are there," he said.
“But it will also make sure that those benefits are now focused on the modern challenges of agriculture and the responsibilities that agriculture has and these include climate change, generational change, and protecting biodiversity,” the Minister added.
Speaking in Mallow where he attended a ceremony at Dairygold’s plant marking a €117 million investment by the company in its post-quota future, Mr Coveney said the Government wants to support farmers who want to expand, as well as promote access to land for young farmers.
