Renua Ireland, the first political party to launch its general election manifesto, launched its seven-point plan to “revive rural Ireland” on Monday 15 February in Birr, Co Offaly.

Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton was accompanied by the party candidate for Offaly, John Leahy, at the launch.

In one of its points, the party promised to “liberate farming” by instigating five key policies.

The first policy is to create a fund to protect farmers from the consequences of price volatility. This fund would be filled by farmers themselves when prices are good and then drawn on when prices are volatile. Jason Fitzgerald, a dairy farmer from Co Cork and Renua’s agriculture spokesperson, said the State would have access to the funding on its balance sheet to ensure farmers don’t pay tax on the fund and have immediate access to the money in a time of crisis. It is similar to the type of income stability tool proposed by ICOS last week.

The second is a new bond scheme that will enable farmers to invest in land. Fitzgerald says this type of scheme will make it easier for new entrants to acquire their own land, despite not having all the capital typically required by banks at the time of their application.

The third is better opportunities and support for long-term land leasing. The fourth is the return of a “green friendly” beet industry and the fifth is ending producer monopolies in industries such as beef.

The fifth policy is a clear reference to the ongoing debate over the proposed deal between ABP Food Group and Slaney Foods, whereby ABP hopes to buy a 50% stake in Slaney Foods. If the deal was to go ahead, ABP would increase its hold on the beef kill in Ireland to 30%.

No to fracking

Renua has also spoken out against fracking as one of the subjects in its seven-point plan. The party says it is “deeply concerned” about attempts to impose fracking and wind farms on rural Ireland without the consent of citizens.

Fracking presents a clear danger to Irish citizens in rural locations dependent on ground water

“We note that a 2015 study of 44,000 fracking wells in the USA outlined that fracking wells, particularly shallow fracking, is capable of damaging the local water supply,” the party stated.

“This indicates fracking presents a clear danger to Irish citizens in rural locations dependent on ground water,” it added.

Wind farms

And in a policy move that is likely to be well received by a number of farmers across the country, Renua has also positioned itself against wind farms.

Ireland should devise an alternative energy strategy

The party stated that the main justification for wind farms is that they are a provider of cheap energy and reduce emissions.

“Increasingly these main justifications are falling apart,” it said. “Renua Ireland does not believe the economic case being made by supporters of wind farms and pylons, and throughout Europe wind farm energy is seen now as being a source of dear rather than cheap energy.”

The party added that Ireland should stop being “an outlier” in this regard and devise “an alternative energy strategy” such as biomass.

Wind Aware Ireland, a group made up of rural communities throughout the country, is chaired by part-time farmer Henry Fingleton, and is vociferous in its objections to wind farms in Ireland.

Reacting to this policy announcement from Renua, the group says it “welcomes a party whose policy on wind farms is based on evidence rather than ideology”.

It also says it “challenges other parties to defend their position on wind farms”.

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