Victor Boyhan urges action on generational renewal in farming
Victor Boyhan spoke to the report of the Commission of Generational Renewal for Irish farmers, welcoming the government's proposals while urging further action. He pressed for measures on pension funding, favourable taxation, rural housing and a dedicated debate to secure viable farm succession.
Support for the Commission's report
He highlighted that MACRA, the IFA and the ICMSA, and events in Tullamore and at the National Ploughing Championships, had emphasised generational renewal as a key issue. He welcomed the government's proposals on the report but said more must be done and delivery must be seen.
Financial barriers to succession
He stressed that passing farms and homesteads on must be financially viable for families, raising pension funding and favourable taxation as central concerns. Land, farming and homesteads are described as the core of agricultural families and financial measures are needed to enable them to release and transfer holdings.
Rural housing and community sustainability
He argued for the right of families to maintain and stay in their homesteads, noting that rural employment extends beyond direct agriculture to artists, enterprises and remote work. Ensuring rural housing and sustainable regional communities is linked directly to food security and long-term viability of farming areas.
Call for a parliamentary debate
He asked that time be set aside—possibly next week—to debate the issue in the Oireachtas, noting it is a private member's business he will raise with the minister. He urged colleagues to prioritise a debate on generational renewal for the benefit of Irish agriculture and rural communities.
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Thank you, Coherlach, Leader and Colleagues. I want to raise the issue of the report on the Commission of Generational Renewal for Irish Farmers and this was a key message that was delivered by MACRA, particularly in the IFA and the ICMSA and other farm organisations, particularly down at Tullamore, showing the summer and again at the National Ploughing Championships and this is a key one of the elements. I want to welcome the government's proposals on it but we need more and we need to see it. You'll know Leader, you represent a constituency of both urban and amazingly rural, fantastic rural and one of the key issues is about this generational renewal in agriculture and how we can pass the baton on but it has to be financially viable for families to release their homesteads, their home places that they have worked, they have earned. Land and farming and homestead are the very core of people in agriculture so I understand that and many of us here in this room will understand that. So there is this issue about pension funding, there is the issue around taxation, favourable taxation but if we want to pass on our land and ensure our food security and ensure viable rural communities and regional communities that are sustainable and viable, the generational renewal plan is key to all of that, as is rural housing. And the right and the right and the right and the right and the right and the right and the right for families to maintain and stay in their homesteads on the land that they were born on, some will inherit, some won't but there are more jobs in agriculture than direct agriculture, there is artists and enterprises, there are people who can work remotely from home and do part time work and live in the homestead. So I think we have to stand firmly with rural communities to ensure that they are sustainable, that they are viable, that they are supported and therefore I would ask if we could at some time have maybe as part of next week, I know it is a private member's business in relation to agriculture and I will have an opportunity again to raise it with the Minister but I think we should actually set aside time to have a debate on this particular important matter for Irish agriculture and Irish rural communities. Thank you. Thank you.
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