Nenagh EDIC will host a Citizens Dialogue on “Irish Food and Farming in a Changing Europe” in Nenagh Library on Thursday the 13th September at 7 pm. The speakers are Gerard Kiely (Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland) and Thomas Ryan (IFA Executive). They will both speak on the topic “Irish Food and Farming in a Changing Europe”.

Gerry Kiely, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, will speak about the challenges facing the EU. He will remind participants that a strong and progressive EU is crucial for the future wellbeing of Ireland, and will underline the importance of EU supporters being more vocal in countering Euro-scepticism. In relation to agriculture, speaking ahead of the meeting, he noted that “recent European Commission proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) would safeguard funding for agriculture to 2027 and help farmers contribute towards climate and environmental objectives.”

Thomas Ryan is Environment Executive at the Irish Farmers’ Association. A graduate of UCD, DIT and the Irish Management Institute, he has degrees in Agricultural Science and Property Studies, and diplomas in Business Management and Corporate Governance. He previously worked with Kerry Group plc and currently represents IFA on two recycling organisations IFFPG and Farm Plastic Recycling Ltd. He is an associate member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland and a member of the Agricultural Science Association and Irish Environmental Law Association. He is also the Programme Manager of the resource efficiency initiative, Smart Farming.

Thomas Ryan will focus his talk on: “Farming and food production is Ireland’s largest indigenous sector, supporting 300,000 jobs and contributing €26bn in turnover to the national economy. The EUs Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) continues to shape the direction of food production in Ireland. Changes to the CAP are currently taking place, with increased environmental ambition, changes to direct payments and greater autonomy to Member States. IFA’s Thomas Ryan will discuss the changes and challenges for Ireland in the current CAP negotiations.”

Clodagh Cavanagh (Managing Director of Abbey Machinery) and Conor Ryan (CEO Arrabawn) will then join the speakers for a panel discussion and a Q&A session with the audience.

Jim Finn (Chairperson of the North Tipperary LEADER Partnership and TippFM Ag-Report Presenter) will act as moderator for this event.

This major event is part of our 2018 EDIC Programme of Events as we are the Europe Direct Information Contact for counties Tipperary, Limerick, Cork and Kerry.

Great interview with Gerard Kiely on TippFM with Fran Curry (link below) in which he gives a taster of his upcoming talk.

http://tippfm.com/podcasts/tipp-today-highlights-edic-talks-nenagh-library/