The recently published list of CAP recipients exposes “obscene inequalities at the heart of Irish agriculture”, Sinn Féin TD Matt Carty has said.

He said it was immoral that a small number of large corporate entities were drawing down large payments, while most family farms struggle to survive. Carty, a Cavan-Monaghan TD, said the “eye-watering figures” reinforced a need to limit payments with Sinn Féin proposing an upper-limit of €60,000.

“One of the largest recipients of CAP payments in Ireland is a company called Godolphin, based in Co Kildare. It is the thoroughbred racing and breeding operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates,” Carty said.

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The stud farm received a CAP payment of €216,768.

“Two farms associated with the billionaire Larry Goodman between them secured payments of almost €400,000,” he added.

Limit

Carty said an upper limit of €60,000 would put an end to this scandal, allowing the funds to be redirected to farmers “who are the lifeblood of our rural economies”.

Carty added:“That Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments have stood over such gross inequalities for so long explains why many farmers have abandoned those parties. It’s time for a radical reform of agriculture payments where resources are invested in our family farmers that have built the reputation that Irish agriculture enjoys all over the world.”

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