The IFA president, Mr Tom Parlon, could hardly have chosen a better day to demonstrate the disadvantages of living and farming on the islands. He had chosen Clare Island off Co Mayo to launch his campaign to save island farmers. By the time the Ocean Star ferry ploughed its way there, the media accompanying him were both shaken and stirred.
Most of the island's 40 farmers trooped into a marquee beside the local hotel for the official launch. Ms Joan O'Toole, who is chairwoman of the IFA branch on the island, said the greatest difficulty facing the island's farmers was the high cost of living there. "Everything costs 50 per cent more for island people and it's hard enough having to survive without that." She said the islanders may have to get rid of more than half their 4,000 sheep to satisfy EU requirements and to prevent overgrazing.
The heritage service of the Department of Arts, Culture. Gaeltacht and the Islands is carrying out a survey of all commonage land in the State and it will determine what level of grazing will be allowed. Clare Island is designated as an area of scientific importance and a natural heritage area and 50 per cent of the land is in commonage. Even farmers accept that it is overgrazed.
Launching the plan, Mr Parlon said it would seek different conditions under EU schemes for farmers who live on islands. The IFA would also seek to make sure the islands could still receive EU structural funds, seek a third tier of disadvantage status for islanders and a reduction in VAT on good imported on to the island. It would also seek improvements in livestock breeding programmes, improved grants for tourism and fish-farming and pledged continued support for the development of piers and other access to the islands around the coast where 3,164 people live.