Edmond Phelan, a beef farmer from Fenor in Co Waterford, has been elected as the new president of the ICSA.

He succeeds Paddy Kent, who resigned in April when he was named as one of five on a replacement list for MEP Mick Wallace.

Phelan will be in place from now through to 2021. He is a former chair of the ICSA’s beef committee.

He defeated two other candidates for the position.

Second placed in the election was Dermot Kelleher, a suckler farmer from Inchigeelagh, Co Cork and the current Munster vice-president.

Hugh Farrell, suckler and beef farmer from Co Cavan, lost out in the first round of voting.

The election took place on Thursday in Portlaoise.

Mercosur

Immediately after his election, Phelan said: "ICSA is vehemently opposed to any Mercosur deal that includes a tariff rate quota for beef.

"Not only would it be economically devastating for Irish beef farmers, it is also farcical that the EU should expect Irish farmers to adopt a broad array of climate change measures while they ignore the massive climate change and environmental downsides of importing vast quantities of beef from South America."

Mercosur would it be economically devastating for Irish beef farmers

He added: "The Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture has this week backed that position. ICSA will now be pushing for this backing to translate into the deal being voted down when it comes before the Dáil.”

€100m beef fund

“Of equal importance is getting the €100m EU beef fund to the most deserving farmers in short order," said Phelan.

"Farmers in the cattle sector have endured a really difficult period and it is urgent that the money is paid to those farmers without them having to jump through any more hoops. For this reason, ICSA will continue to oppose any conditionality attached to accessing this fund.”

Climate

“We also need to turn the debate on climate change towards policies which recognise the positive contribution of farmers in terms of more renewables and recognising increased efficiencies in minimising emissions and proper accounting of sequestration," the new president said.

"While the Climate Action Plan will be very challenging for the agriculture sector, farmers will always respond to the right incentives.”

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