8 May 2012, 17:22
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today heard wide-ranging concerns from representatives of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association on the current state of play of the Common Agricultural Policy negotiations
CAP reform is a key priority for the Committee, which is discussing the subject in detail with a number of major stakeholders this month. Department of Agriculture officials, MEPs and IFA representatives addressed the Committee last week.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “This meeting today was a constructive engagement with the ICSA representatives on their approach to CAP. Representing sheep and cattle farmers across the country, their presence allowed the Committee explore their distinct perspective on the on-going CAP negotiations.”
“Echoing some of the concerns of the witnesses last week, the representatives pointed to the ongoing ambiguity around the levels of CAP funding in the overall EU budget, concerns that any significant flattening of payments across the board would hit too many farmers too severely, the dangers of extra bureaucracy particularly in relation to greening and land rental market fluctuations driven by the current uncertainty.
“Our Committee will forward a short political report to the EU Institutions before the summer, which will incorporate the concerns raised by the ICSA representatives. Other farming organisations and stakeholders are scheduled to address the Committee in the coming weeks.”
Ends
For further information and to arrange accreditation please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan