President's Opening Address - Macra National Conference 2026

Taoiseach, Feisire Parlaiminte na hEorpa, a dhaoine uaisle agus cairde Macra, is mór an onóir dom fáilte a chur romhaibh go léir dár gComhdháil Náisiúnta 2026 anseo i Luimneach. 
Ladies and gentlemen, sometimes, to understand where we are going, we need to remind ourselves of where we have come from. Sixty years ago, in October 1966, Macra held what would become a significant milestone in our organisation's history. For the first time, our National Rally moved from its traditional summer gathering to an autumn event. But 1966 was notable for far more than a change in the calendar. The Farmers' Rights Campaign was in full swing. Relations between farmers and the Government were at an all-time low, and much of the 1960s was characterised by very limited official engagement between farm leaders and Government.
Fast-forward just four years to 1970, and Macra's National Rally welcomed a particularly significant international visitor: the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Sicco Mansholt. His ambition was to tackle the issue of low farm incomes and transform European agriculture. A worthy ambition, certainly, although his proposed methods of achieving it were considerably less appealing from the perspective of Irish farmers. Then came Ireland's entry into the European Economic Community in 1973, opening the door to unprecedented opportunities and growth for Irish agriculture. But as we all know, the journey since then has been far from straightforward. In 1983, Installation Aid was introduced at European level, recognising the importance of supporting young farmers as they established themselves in the industry. Just one year later, in 1984, milk quotas were introduced, fundamentally changing the landscape for dairy farmers and shaping the direction of Irish agriculture for decades to come. And throughout all of this, Macra continued to be a voice for young farmers, adapting, advocating and fighting for the future of our members.
Now, you might be wondering why I have taken you on this particular history lesson. When we look back at that first autumn Rally sixty years ago and the journey of Irish Agriculture since then, the similarities between the challenges facing farmers then and those facing us today are, quite frankly, startling. Sixty years ago, low farm incomes were a major concern. Today, young farmers are still struggling to make ends meet, with income volatility, rising production costs and the soaring price of essential inputs such as fuel and fertiliser putting immense pressure on already stretched farm businesses. Sixty years ago, farmers were fighting to have their voices heard by Government. Today, many would argue that relations between farmers and Government are once again at an all-time low.
And more than forty years after Installation Aid was first introduced, young Irish farmers are still waiting for the meaningful establishment support that our European counterparts have been able to avail of. Different decades. Different Governments. Different challenges. But far too many of the same problems.
There is, however, one very important difference between 1966 and today. Back then, engagement between farm leaders and Government was limited. Today, Macra has a seat at the table. We have opportunities to engage directly with Ministers, Government officials and European policymakers. We have used every opportunity available to us to advocate for young farmers, to highlight the barriers w face and to put forward practical, achievable solutions. And let me be very clear: we value that engagement. But Taoiseach, having a seat at the table means very little if you don’t listen to us, if nobody is prepared to act on what we are saying. 
For sixty years and more, Irish farmers have overcome challenge after challenge. They have adapted to changing markets, changing policies, changing economic conditions and changing expectations. They have put their shoulders to the wheel, day after day, to earn an income for their families, care for their animals, produce high-quality food and look after the land that has been entrusted to them. Our farmers are resilient. We are resourceful. And we are determined. But Taoiseach, resilience can only take us so far. How many more times do you expect farmers to simply take another problem on the chin and get on with it? How many more hurdles must young farmers overcome before Government recognises that the barriers are becoming too great? How many more reports must be written, consultations held and meetings attended before we see meaningful action? And perhaps most importantly, Taoiseach, when will your Government move beyond simply listening to young farmers and actually start delivering for us?
Because there is one issue in particular where the time for talking has well and truly run out. And that is generational renewal. For decades, Macra has been calling for meaningful supports to encourage and facilitate the next generation of farmers. For decades, we have advocated for a dedicated succession scheme. And for decades, we have highlighted the challenges of delayed succession, access to land, access to finance, income volatility and the ever-increasing cost of establishing a viable farm business. Yet despite all of this, meaningful progress has been painfully slow. And now, we are staring down the barrel of a generational renewal crisis. The tragedy of this situation is that we have young people who want to farm.
We have ambitious, innovative, hardworking young people who want to build a future in agriculture. We want to take over family farms. We want to develop new enterprises. We want to invest in our communities and contribute to the future of Irish food production. But increasingly, the barriers standing in our way are simply becoming too great to overcome. The challenges are many, but the supports are few. And since I became National President, I have become increasingly concerned that generational renewal is turning into little more than a tokenistic political ambition. We hear the right words. We see the right headlines. We attend the launches, the consultations and the conferences. And yet, where is the action? We saw the publication of the Commission on Generational Renewal's report, launched with great fanfare and plenty of promises about the importance of supporting the next generation. But what has actually been achieved? Where is the implementation? Where are the tangible supports? Where is the urgency? Because from where I am standing, that report appears to be doing little more than gathering dust on a shelf in some Government building. And that is simply not good enough.
Which brings us to the Common Agricultural Policy post-2027, the central focus of today's conference. When the initial proposals were published, we were heartened to see generational renewal placed at the centre of the conversation. Finally, there appeared to be a glimmer of hope. Finally, there was recognition at European level that the future of agriculture depends on supporting the next generation. And perhaps, we thought, if our own Government was unwilling to deliver the supports we had been calling for, the next CAP might finally compel it to do so. But as negotiations have progressed, that initial optimism has become increasingly difficult to maintain. The proposed budget is deeply disappointing. The ambition for young farmers is being weakened. And with every stage of the negotiations, the prospect of a CAP that genuinely delivers for the next generation appears to be slipping further away. We cannot allow that to happen. Not when so much is at stake. Not when the demographic challenges facing agriculture are becoming more urgent by the day. And certainly not when we have a generation of young farmers whose futures depend on the decisions being made.
Now, Taoiseach, I am a teacher. And as a former teacher yourself, I am sure you will appreciate the importance of clear learning outcomes. So today, Taoiseach, I am going to set out six very clear learning outcomes that I expect you and your Government to take away from this conference. Consider it your lesson plan for delivering a future for young farmers. And while there may not be a test here today, I can assure you that the biggest examination is yet to come. Because when the CAP negotiations conclude, we will be assessing whether you and your Government have managed to achieve a H1 for Irish young farmers. 
First and foremost, we need a CAP budget that can actually delivers on its ambitions. We cannot expect farmers to do more with less, particularly when production costs are rising, environmental demands are growing and the pressure to deliver sustainable, competitive food production has never been greater. Taoiseach, Ireland has a critical role to play in these negotiations, and we must fight for a budget that matches the ambition of the policy and the needs of our farmers.
Our second demand is clear. A mandatory 10% of CAP funding must be ringfenced for young farmers. Not an aspiration. Not a recommendation. And certainly not a voluntary commitment that can be quietly set aside when other priorities emerge. We need legally binding, protected funding that ensures young farmers receive the investment they need. Because how can we expect to address a generational renewal crisis on a shoestring budget? How can we encourage young people into farming without providing the financial supports necessary to overcome the barriers they face? And how can we claim that generational renewal is a priority if we are unwilling to allocate the funding required to make it happen? However, let me be crystal clear. CAP alone cannot solve the generational renewal crisis. Generational renewal must become a national priority, supported by meaningful domestic policies and funding. Taoiseach, your Government cannot simply point towards Brussels and hope that Europe will solve a problem that requires action here at home. You need to wake up to the scale of this challenge before we sleepwalk into a crisis from which Irish agriculture may struggle to recover.
Furthermore, an ambitious and meaningful Starter Pack for young farmers must be delivered. And at the very heart of that Starter Pack must be Installation Aid. For far too long, Macra has been calling for this vital support. Installation Aid recognises a simple reality: establishing a farm business requires significant upfront investment. Whether it is purchasing livestock, investing in infrastructure, accessing land or developing a viable enterprise, young farmers face substantial costs at precisely the point when their financial resources are often most limited. And yet, Ireland has continued to fail to provide the dedicated Installation Aid, a support that Macra has consistently advocated for. We cannot continue to put our young farmers at a competitive disadvantage compared with their European counterparts. We cannot expect young Irish farmers to compete on a level playing field if we refuse to give them the same opportunities.
Our fourth demand is the introduction of a dedicated succession scheme. Succession is one of the greatest barriers to generational renewal in Irish agriculture. Too often, the transfer of farm management is delayed, leaving young people unable to make decisions, access supports or invest confidently in the future of the business. Macra has long campaigned for a scheme that supports older farmers as they transition away from the day-to-day management of the farm, while enabling younger farmers to take on responsibility and develop the business. Macra has already developed an ambitious proposal, informed by the work of the Commission on Generational Renewal. We have done the groundwork. Now it is your turn to pick up the baton and carry the team over the line.
We must make farming a viable, accessible and attractive career for the next generation. Because even if we address access to land, even if we deliver Installation Aid, and even if we support succession, we will achieve very little if young people cannot see a sustainable livelihood for themselves in agriculture. We need a CAP that is simpler, more accessible and less burdened by unnecessary red tape and duplication. We need meaningful measures to address income volatility, ensuring young farmers can earn a fair living for their hard work. We need subsidised farm relief services that recognise the realities of modern farming and support the wellbeing and work-life balance of those working in the sector. And we need to ensure that farming is an accessible and attractive career for both young men and young women. And we must ensure vibrant rural communities where our young people can live and work. 
Underpinning every single one of these demands is a simple message. It is time for Government to start valuing farmers, not just in words, but in actions. We hear regularly about the importance of Ireland's agri-food sector. We hear about its contribution to our economy, its importance to our exports, its role in supporting employment and the vital part it plays in sustaining rural communities. And rightly so. Agriculture is the backbone of this country. However, actions speak louder than words. And unfortunately, when it comes to delivering for young farmers, the actions of successive Governments — or perhaps I should say the lack of action — have spoken volumes.
Now, I want to acknowledge that Macra has had opportunities to engage with you, Taoiseach, and with Minister Heydon. We appreciate those opportunities, and we will continue to engage constructively at every level. But the engagements, meetings and reports must result in delivery, not just empty promises. 
With every lesson, comes homework so your homework Taoiseach. Macra has delivered our CAP Position Paper. Read it. Today, we have young farmers from across the country, alongside distinguished speakers and experts, ready to share their experiences, their concerns and their ideas. Listen to us. And finally, Taoiseach, your mission — should you choose to accept it — is to deliver meaningful, ambitious and properly funded supports that will allow young farmers and rural young people to build the future we want and the future we deserve.
But let me be very clear. I do not just hope you accept that mission. I expect you to. Because this is not a game. These are our livelihoods, ambitions and futures. Young people who want to farm. So give us the future we want and help us to Stake our Claim in our future in Agriculture.  So when the final CAP regulations are agreed, and the decisions have been made, that will be your final examination.  Will you be the H1 student who delivers a CAP that genuinely secures the future of young farmers? Or will you and your Government once again fail to deliver for the very generation on which the future of Irish agriculture depends?
The ball is in your court, Taoiseach. And, as they say, may the odds be ever in your favour. But the future of young farmers should not be left to luck. It demands decisive political leadership and meaningful action. The fate of countless young farmers rests on the decisions you and your Government make. And Macra will continue to challenge, advocate and fight for the future our young farmers deserve.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. I look forward to a constructive, engaging and, above all, action-focused conference.
It is my pleasure to officially welcome you to Macra's National Conference 2026 and welcome our keynote speaker An Taoiseach Michéal Martin to the stage. Go raibh míle maith agaibh!