The UK Government’s ‘reckless’ plan to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol breaches international law, doesn’t have the support of the majority of people or business in the north and is a disaster for the agri sector according to Fine Gael’s Colm Markey. The Midlands-North-West MEP, who sits on both the European Parliament’s Committee on...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has welcomed Cabinet approval of a new scheme to revive the Irish seed potato industry. The €3m in funding will come from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve – the EU’s emergency instrument to support countries negatively affected by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union. Markey, a member of...Read More
The European Commission’s proposal to update the Industrial Emissions Directive is a bureaucratic nightmare for Irish farmers and will do little to address our environmental challenges, according to Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey. Today (Tuesday April 5th), the Commission proposed extending the scope of the directive to cattle farms and to a larger number of...Read More
The European Commission’s €500 million support package for farmers is not enough to tackle the challenges facing the agri-food sector according to Fine Gael’s Colm Markey, a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee. It is one of a number of measures outlined by the Commission today (Wednesday) in response to the food security crisis,...Read More
Carbon farming can play a major role in tackling climate change while offering new income opportunities for farmers but how will this new agricultural business model work and what are the key challenges ahead? This webinar heard from experts on the ground making carbon sequestration a reality and those developing the regulatory framework to implement...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has welcomed the results of a vote in the European Parliament on the future of animal welfare during transport. A majority of MEPs backed a report compiled by a Special Committee – which was set up to investigate alleged breaches of the rules – but rejected a number of measures...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has urged colleagues in the European Parliament to reject proposals to effectively ban the transport of calves, saying it will lead to serious animal welfare issues on farms in Ireland and across the EU. The measures were put forward by the Greens and will be voted on in the European...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey is calling for a three-to-four year strategy to re-establish the potato industry in Ireland. He made the call as efforts continue at EU level to find a temporary solution to allow the movement of seed potatoes from the UK back into Ireland. Markey, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has said he is disappointed in his parliamentary colleague Ciarán Cuffe following reports the Green MEP wrote to banks about lending practices to young farmers. Markey has joined calls for clarity from the party regarding its views on agricultural investment in light of the letter. MEP Markey said young farmers...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has secured the tabling of a number of ‘crucial’ amendments to tomorrow’s (Wednesday October 19th) vote in the European Parliament on the EU Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions (Spyraki report). The amendments are intended to add to the text agreed in the Environment Committee by recognising ways in which methane...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has welcomed further talks between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the Common Agricultural Policy. Negotiations ended today without an agreement but all sides have agreed to resume discussions in June with the aim of reaching a compromise. He commented, “Although a deal wasn’t reached this week,...Read More
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has told the European Parliament that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique opportunity to reinvent and reimagine rural communities. He was speaking during a debate on Thursday with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski on the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas. Commenting afterwards, the Midlands...Read More
Ireland’s newest MEP, Colm Markey, expects his experience as a former Macra president to stand him in good stead as he balances the demands of his new role with running a fulltime dairy farm in Louth.Read More
Brexit readiness for businesses and challenges to the agri-sector are top of agenda for Ireland’s newest MEP Colm Markey, who officially began working in the role today (Friday November 20).Read More
