Flattening, or convergence, of farm payments, was the hot topic for Mayo farmers at the first IFA hustings for MEP candidates in the European Parliament elections.
Mayo livestock chair and beef farmer Brendan Golden told the MEP hopefuls in Claremorris that the livestock sector was on its knees.
“When I hear people talking about 100% convergence and that the European agriculture committee voted for it – I’m disgusted with that. I’m a full-time beef farmer,” he told the candidates. My house is 100% dependent on livestock and we’ve been getting creamed for the last five years.”
Eugene Macken, a farmer from Ballindine, said that a farmer on 1,000ha of mountain and a farmer with 20ha of productive, good land could receive the same amount of money per hectare. “The biggest single danger to family farming is convergence,” he said.
In response, sitting Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan said that there would inevitably be losers from the convergence of farm payments.
“But the reality is, this constituency will gain by €157m as a result of 100% convergence. I have heard it said well this is going to affect people on 20ha and 30ha who had high entitlements. Sorry if you are losing, [but] many are gaining,” he said.
Independent candidate Fidelma Helay-Eames said it could not be about robbing Peter to pay Paul because that is what convergence was. “I support upwards-only convergence from an increased CAP budget,” she said.
Current Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy said that the CAP payment system does not reward productive farmers and called on the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael MEP candidates to clarify their position on convergence.
Read more
Midlands-northwest MEP candidates have their say on farming
ICSA president resigns over upcoming MEP election
Flattening, or convergence, of farm payments, was the hot topic for Mayo farmers at the first IFA hustings for MEP candidates in the European Parliament elections.
Mayo livestock chair and beef farmer Brendan Golden told the MEP hopefuls in Claremorris that the livestock sector was on its knees.
“When I hear people talking about 100% convergence and that the European agriculture committee voted for it – I’m disgusted with that. I’m a full-time beef farmer,” he told the candidates. My house is 100% dependent on livestock and we’ve been getting creamed for the last five years.”
Eugene Macken, a farmer from Ballindine, said that a farmer on 1,000ha of mountain and a farmer with 20ha of productive, good land could receive the same amount of money per hectare. “The biggest single danger to family farming is convergence,” he said.
In response, sitting Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan said that there would inevitably be losers from the convergence of farm payments.
“But the reality is, this constituency will gain by €157m as a result of 100% convergence. I have heard it said well this is going to affect people on 20ha and 30ha who had high entitlements. Sorry if you are losing, [but] many are gaining,” he said.
Independent candidate Fidelma Helay-Eames said it could not be about robbing Peter to pay Paul because that is what convergence was. “I support upwards-only convergence from an increased CAP budget,” she said.
Current Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy said that the CAP payment system does not reward productive farmers and called on the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael MEP candidates to clarify their position on convergence.
Read more
Midlands-northwest MEP candidates have their say on farming
ICSA president resigns over upcoming MEP election
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