Rosslare district-based Cllr Jim Codd, a candidate for Aontú in next Friday’s Wexford constituency by-election, claims that farmers and fishermen should be on the frontline of new innovative measures to tackle the environmental crisis. “Standing around with a placard would achieve nothing at this stage and instead the time had come for innovative government backed grassroots action,” he stated.

“Farmers and Fishermen are uniquely positioned to be on the frontline of the measures to tackle climate change,” said Cllr Codd, who added; “They are the ones who make their living from the land and the sea, are attuned to weather changes and know more about sustainability than anyone.”

Cllr Codd continued; “I’m calling on the government, and my fellow candidates in this by-election, to support legislation change to allow farmers to easily sell renewable energy back into the national grid.  This will dramatically increase the amount of electricity we can harness from renewable sources and give a vital lifeline to the four thousand family run farms in this county.

“I’m also proposing that we follow the lead of other countries and begin paying our fishermen to collect plastic from our clogged oceans. Once again this is an innovative measure to deal with pollution and once again it will offer a new economic lease of life to the struggling fishing community.”