Fianna Fail may have lost its second European seat in Connacht because of its policy of putting flora and fauna before farmers, the Irish Farmers' Association president, Mr Tom Parlon, has said. He said the vexed question of Special Protection Areas must have been an issue for many farmers in the west.
"The Government appears to want to place the needs of wildlife and flora and fauna before those of the farmers, and it should not be forgotten that the director of elections for Fianna Fail, Mr O Cuiv, is directly involved in the Department making these rules," he said.
Farmers, especially in the west and midlands, were concerned about stocking rates on commonage, eskers and blanket bogs.
Mr Parlon said he had spent the day with farmers who were involved in saving the corncrake by farming in an environmentally sensitive way.
"They are very supportive of this programme but the compensation they are getting will in no way cover their losses for the past two years," he said.
He said the main restrictions were on grazing, the banning of supplementary feeding and, most significantly, the delay in cutting meadows until August 1st in certain areas.
Mr Parlon was critical of the Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, for her failure to bring forward realistic measures to alleviate the loss and property devaluation incurred by farmers.