3 May 2012, 15:03
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today heard representatives of the Irish Farmers Association urge government support at the highest level for the maintenance of CAP funding.
Echoing concerns of MEPs and department officials expressed at a Committee meeting earlier in the week, IFA President John Bryan and General Secretary Pat Smith warned of the precarious nature of the current negotiations on the EU’s overall budget.
They said that as the EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework would ultimately be agreed at European Council level, the Taoiseach had a critical role in forcefully presenting Ireland’s position on safeguarding CAP to key Member States, as the negotiations intensify.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “The Committee today heard a comprehensive address from Mr Bryan, who linked the continued levels of CAP funding to the EU's food security as well as jobs and growth across its rural areas. The IFA leadership argued strongly for retaining the Single Farm Payment and Rural Development programmes, believing that any move towards a flat rate payment would act as a disincentive to productive farmers.
“The IFA representatives were heavily critical of the proposed greening measures, fearing they will lead to greater bureaucracy. The Committee takes on board the argument that the greening proposals don’t give due recognition that Ireland, with levels of pasture farming three times the EU average, has an outstanding record of green, clean food production.
“We are encouraged by IFA consensus building across their diverse membership involved in all agriculture sectors in Ireland, and their engagement with counterpart organisations facing similar challenges in other Member States.
“Our Committee will forward a short political report to the EU Institutions before the summer, which will incorporate today’s discussions with representatives of Ireland’s largest farmers’ organisation. Other farming organisations and stakeholders are scheduled to address the Committee in the coming weeks.”
Ends
For further information 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