Martin Stapleton for IFA President

“The President of the IFA for 2024 – 2028 needs to unite the organisation as the force in Irish agriculture it once was. I am convinced that my progressive approach will reassert our influence as a powerful voice for farmers when lobbying the governments in Dublin and Brussels. I have the experience and the drive to succeed in restoring respect for
farmers, to give farmers the right to farm as they see fit, to protect our incomes and to unify the IFA."

We are another week closer to the count.

My team are still working hard and are enjoying meeting and speaking with IFA members around the country.

I would ask those still to vote, to consider myself for IFA President.

I will do my utmost for you!
I will represent you!
I will listen to you!
I will bring IFA back to what it once was!

It was a unique privilege to see my mother vote in the .ie Presidential election.

All IFA election ballots are now issued. If you have not received your election pack or if it has been lost or damaged please contact your local IFA office or call 0818 924 852.

Remember to post your ballots back to arrive, by post, before 5pm on December 11th.

- Sept 2018

When I was Chairman of the IFA’s Farm Business Committee, I issued a warning that if someone were to buy the land the IFA would ensure local farmers would refuse to co-operate with them.

This would effectively have rendered the land worthless to any potential buyer.

I also said there are about 2,000 farm families around the country who are in serious difficulties over debt and that attempted forced sales like the McCann’s looked set to become more common in the months and years ahead.

Full article:
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0912/993387-farm/

A really positive experience attending the recent Limerick Macra Executive meeting.

Great discussion on the need for more cooperation between farmers of all ages for the benefit of all!

Thanks for engaging with me .

What a mess! I'm talking to way too many farmers suffering hardship because of delayed payments.

It's long past time to pay out the first instalment to everyone. It's all about respect!

I was delighted to be in the Burren this week to join hundreds of people in celebrating the annual event of turning the cattle out to the mountain winterage. Brilliant to see farming and the environment working together and being appreciated by all.

One of the highlights of this campaign has been meeting the farmers spread all across Ireland.

The chats and engagement I’ve had on the ground has been welcoming and insightful.

Here’s to many more weeks of it.

When the team meets their own namesake you know it’ll be good.

A productive day all around in Waterford. Support for the campaign gathered, and a horse bought. 💯

Always a deal to be done in farming. 🐴

The issues from the members in Mullingar this week included:
❗️Convergence,
❗️Communications,
❗️The make-up of SCEP,
❗️Derogation,
❗️Calf Welfare,
❗️Wildlife,
❗️ Closed period for slurry spreading,
❗️Emissions,
❗️The gap between beef price here and the UK, and
❗️Tillage support.

Siobhan and I enjoyed a day of sunshine in Wexford and I enjoyed a good discussion on farming and GAA with the legendary Tony Doran.

The main issues from the farmers in Carrick-on-Shannon this week were:
❗️Better PR to Public,
❗️Leakage of farmers money in Schemes,
❗️Over regulation,
❗️Freedom to farm,
❗️Fairness in Forestry planting distribution, &
❗️Young farmer entrants.

Mondays hustings was in Athenry, County Galway.

The issues on the Galway members minds included:
❗️Rewetting,
❗️Bord bia audits,
❗️Prompt payments of all schemes,
❗️Supports for all sectors,
❗️IFA structures,
❗️Unity among farmers,
❗️and much more.

Thanks to for covering this years IFA Presidential elections.

I stand by my four principles for my IFA Presidency.
1️⃣ The need for respect for farmers and the IFA,
2️⃣ Unity,
3️⃣ Freedom to farm, and
4️⃣ The need to maintain income and supports.

Tuesday night saw the campaign reach Castlebar for the Mayo IFA hustings.

Questions ranging from:
❗️Farmers' pensions,
❗️Culling of the national herd,
❗️Succession,
❗️Farmer bashing,
❗️Structures within IFA,
❗️Nitrates,
❗️Fair representation at all levels.

Tonight I am in Mullingar to meet the members from Longford and Westmeath who turned up in numbers.

Looking at beautiful Bannow Bay, it is hard to believe that only a kilometre away, a years work, and a crop of barley lies destroyed.

2023 is a year this group will never forget.

If can't support these farmers, what can he do?

Thank you for the great reception in Wicklow this weekend. The team meet lots of members to discuss their issues.

Another busy day spent meeting members all around North Tipperary today. 🔵🟡

Let us know if you see the poster. 👍🏻

Week Two of hustings is complete. ✅

Thanks to everyone that came out from North Cork, Cork Central, Carlow & Kilkenny IFA.

A great evening meeting farmers at in Millstreet. 🐄

Huge concerns raised around implications of changes to the derogation and their impact on the viability and profitable of dairy farms.

The team and myself are all around the country at the moment. 🚘

Here’s Helen, out and about in Kerry today canvassing. 👣

Thanks to everyone that has been welcoming myself and my team into their farms to talk all things farming and IFA.

Debates last night in Goresbridge focused on a number of key issues;
❗️Communication,
❗️Income
❗️Involving young people, and
❗️Respect for farmers.

Thank you, Kilkenny & Carlow .ie members for attending, and engaging with me last night.

Thank you to Matt O' Keeffe for an opportunity to debate on this afternoon.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Goresbridge this evening .ie presidential debates.

I always enjoy an evening in Cork and tonight has been no different.

Thanks for the welcome and the variety of questions from the members.

It’s been great to get back to it.

After a really fantastic meeting last night with my very supportive campaign team, we are ready for another week on the campaign trail. 🗺️