ICSA People
Malcolm Thompson
Malcolm Thompson, his wife Mabel and their family live in Convoy, Donegal, where they run a mixed farm with sucklers, sheep, beef and some tillage. According to Malcolm, “As leader of ICSA my key objectives are:
- To have profitability in all farming enterprises, without the need to depend on the single entitlement
- To protect our suckler herd
- To have a realistic price for beef and lamb that reflects the cost of production
- To have profitability in all farming enterprises, without the need to depend on the single entitlement
- To protect our suckler herd
- To have a realistic price for beef and lamb that reflects the cost of production
- To have viable agriculture in every part of Ireland , whether on the tillage land of Carlow , the Golden Vale or the hill areas in the western counties.
- That Irish farm produce should be marketed throughout Europe as a premium product and that it is sold at a premium price
- To ensure that farmers are not the victims of excess bureaucracy, unfair penalties or inspections that are witch-hunts.”
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Eddie Punch – General Secretary
- Eddie Punch
Eddie Punch is the general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, a post that he has held since 1999. In that time, ICSA has developed from a small base into an organisation with 10,000 members and the association’s progress has now been recognised in being appointed social partners by the government.
He is a member of various committees that advise the government and Department of Agriculture, including the National Economic and Social Council, the Farmers’ Charter Committee and the National Reserve Committee and he represents ICSA at all Social Partnership meetings.
His responsibilities include human resources, communications, financial and strategic management of the association as well as representing it in negotiations with the agri-food sector, government ministers and officials, members of the Oireachtas and EU elected representatives and officials.
A native of Cratloe, Co. Clare he joined the company from West Limerick Resources Ltd where he was responsible for the ‘Facing the Millennium’ report. A graduate of the University of Limerick, where he obtained a degree in European Studies (Economics & Public Affairs) he previously worked with the Laois Leader Rural Development Company.
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Paddy Kent – Leinster vice president
Paddy Kent operates a medium-sized farm near New Ross, concentrating mostly on pedigree Belgium Blues and some pure bred Blue Texels. As Leinster vice president, Paddy will be fighting for the removal of levies on all farm commodities, which he says are a stealth tax on farmers.
He would also like to see better incentives for producing quality beef and lamb in the pricing structure. Paddy is particularly concerned at EU imports of Brazilian beef and will campaign at local, national and European level for a ban.
“The lack of competition in the beef and lamb markets, with the disappearance over the years of the smaller independent factories as a result of draconian misinterpretaion of EU legislation, has led to a drastic reduction in farm incomes in relation to other sectors. I would, during my tenure, be keen to address this issue with the urgency it requires. I feel very strongly that we should be doing all we can to protect our live exports.”
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John Barron – Connaught Ulster vice president
John Barron from Ballintra, Co Donegal is married to Mary and they have two sons Francis and Joseph. He farms sucklers, beef and sheep.
According to John, “I am honoured to have been elected as Connacht/Ulster vice president of this strong and vibrant organisation. Allowing our members to voice their opinions and concerns at county and national level has delivered strength and allowed ICSA to successfully achieve full decoupling. The future of the family farm is reliant on producing top quality beef and lamb for niche markets and receiving just reward for our produce . This is why I intend to use my new role to lobby Minister Coughlan to target modulation money at sheep and beef breeding initiatives and also at marketing in the form of producer groups.”
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Edmond Phelan
Edmond Phelan – Munster vice president
Edmond Phelan is a beef and tillage farmer with some forestry on his farm near Fenor in Co Waterford. Edmond has been a member of the management committee of ICSA for the past six years.
Edmond, through his involvement with ICSA is actively fighting against the radical cuts that have been imposed on farmers since 2008. His main areas of interest are issues surrounding food labeling and the environment. “I think it’s time that local authorities stood up and took responsibility for the role they play in water and other pollution causes in this country. Farmers are being apportioned an unfair share of this blame.”
