Sir, - Scratch a non farmer, land you will usually find a farmer not too far beneath the surface. For reasons of tradition, culture and kinship, most non farming people in Ireland have a lot of sympathy for farmers, whose work is often arduous and who are currently experiencing the most difficult of times.
However, the greatest difficulty facing farmers at present is not BSE, but foot and mouth disease - specifically, John Donnelly's - foot in John Donnelly's mouth. Here is a man who, since he was elected as leader of the IFA, has missed many good opportunities to remain silent. When he has spoken, his words have often been intemperate or simply foolish. The current rhetoric about the Russian BSE restrictions is but the latest example.
There is a crisis of confidence among consumers about agriculture and about the food we eat. Perhaps it's unfair to blame farmers, although some are at least partly responsible. We all wanted cheap food, and many of us ignored the chemical and commercial short cuts which were taken along the way. Ecological and environmental concerns often took second place, through a kind of silent consensus. Now we are beginning to see the price to be paid. Cheap shots at whichever politician is in the hot seat simply miss the point.
Much confidence building will be needed to repair the damage. This will take time effort and good faith on all sides, as well as a real dialogue between producers and consumers. Mr Donnelly, who appears to be still in denial about these problems, is doing a disservice to farmers and the entire community. - Yours, etc,
Model Farm Road Cork.