The Farmers’ Alliance has had their registration as a political party approved as of last Friday.
Now, after a 21-day appeal period, the group will be eligible to run candidates in any future general, local or European elections in Ireland.
In a statement on the decision this week, the group announced that it would be contesting the upcoming local and European elections in June, and the subsequent general election, which is expected to take place next Spring.
“When we set out on this journey over one year ago, our aim was to provide a collective voice for
the farmers of Ireland, and push back on EU policies that threaten our industry, and our nation’s
food and energy security,” the party said.
They added: “While that is still our primary goal, we see that there are many other pressing issues affecting our great country.”
The party said that “as a national political movement,” it would be branching out into covering other issues “to build a better future, not just for farmers, but for all citizens of Ireland.”
It went on to accuse the government of being “entirely captured” by “multinational interests,” as they also accused the opposition of being “asleep at the wheel.”
“It is clear to most people now that this government is no longer working for the people, and instead has been entirely captured by NGOs, EU bureaucrats and multinational interests,” they said.
“The opposition has been asleep at the wheel as one crisis after another escalates, and the people have no faith in them.”
The party said that its work had “only just begun.”
“We are calling on the people of Ireland, rural and urban alike, to get behind the Farmers’ Alliance,” the group said.
“To help us get the country back to a place where our young people look forward to building a life and a home here; where they feel safe walking our streets; our elderly and ill are given the treatment they deserve; a place where sanity prevails; where we do not sacrifice our food and energy security to appease some future unknown catastrophe.”
They added that they would “work hard” to “protect Ireland’s sovereignty, which has been rapidly eroded by the current government” and “ensure the country is run for the people, by the people.”
Speaking to Gript, Farmers’ Alliance founder and Donegal sheep farmer Liam McLaughlin said that the party already had candidates lined up for the upcoming elections.
“We could lay our hands on 40 candidates at the moment, but I’d like to run as many as 100 or more if we get them,” he said.
“Interviews with candidates are ongoing, and anyone is welcome to put themselves forward as a candidate, and we will speak with them. We are currently getting organised for the local elections.
“We’d like to gain seats in local authorities throughout the country where key decisions are being made on local issues, and currently, we feel the Green lobby has far too much power in these arenas.”
McLaughlin further added that the party’s current priorities were immigration and the EU’s treatment of farming communities.
“Our priorities at the moment would be immigration and concerns around how the EU are treating farmers around Europe,” he said.
“Immigration is the big one that needs to be prioritised, due to the anger and distress being caused to Irish town and city people. The government is failing on these issues big time.”
Regarding the upcoming European election, McLoughlin referred to claims made by Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly, who said that “70% of legislation comes from Europe,” and that in the Dáil TDs are “often only transposing what’s decided.”
Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, Seán Kelly, says he wouldn't want to give up his seat in Europe for a seat in the Dáil, because "Many people don’t realise that 70% of legislation comes from Europe, and that in the Dáil they’re often only transposing what’s decided.”#gript pic.twitter.com/9XFeWyZyqb
— gript (@griptmedia) December 9, 2023
“For the EU election, as Sean Kelly revealed, this is where 70% of legislation is decided upon nowadays,” he said.
“And so we feel it’s crucial we do our best to get an MEP out there who is willing to fight to protect farming, energy security and national sovereignty.
“The EU has morphed into a giant superstate with far too much power over how individual nations are governed. We need someone who will fight to reform it from within, back to an organisation focused on free trade and economic cooperation only.”
McLoughlin claimed that his group had been “flooded with messages of support from all corners of Ireland” from “farmers and non-farmers alike.”
“What we are saying is resonating with people in a big way,” he said.
“We have a steady stream of people signing up via our website.”
In conclusion, the group called on the public to get involved politically.
“We will be fielding candidates in local, national and EU elections – seeking to get ordinary hard
working people into the seats of power,” they said, adding: “And we hereby invite any potential candidates aligned with our policies to get in touch.
“We will soon be arranging meetings locally and will be continuing to recruit candidates in every
corner of the country. We believe we have one year to turn things around in this country, three
sets of elections between now and March 2025.
“Should the current government or main opposition retain power for another term, we fear the damage will be irreversible.
“Farmers’ Alliance are now in a position to prevent that from happening, and we look forward to
representing you in the upcoming elections.”