The EU budget deal announced on Tuesday morning will be disastrous for Irish family farms and the rural communities that depend on them, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy has said.
In a cutting assessment of the deal, Carthy said: “Behind the spin of Government, one thing from this deal is clear; Irish farmers and rural communities are the big losers.
“It appears that Micheál Martin approached these negotiations in the same manner as he did government formation talks; agree to a deal at any price.”
This is at a time when Irish family farmers need more support, not less
The Cavan-Monaghan TD drew particular attention to the halving of a proposed €15bn fund for rural development schemes that will come from a €750bn recovery fund.
“In real terms, the budget line towards the Common Agriculture Policy has been cut by 9% and yet it is clear that there will be additional bureaucracy and costs associated with drawing down the funds. This is at a time when Irish family farmers need more support, not less.
“Suggestions that the losses will be offset by a €300m Pillar II ‘top-up’ or via the Brexit emergency fund will not wash with farmers,” Carthy warned.
It appears that the Taoiseach has agreed to a deal whereby the Irish people will be paying substantially more
Farmers were already under pressure, he said, and cuts to their payments could spell the end for them.
“Big questions also remain as to how much additional EU spending Irish taxpayers will be expected to fork out, and how much we will get in return.
“It appears that the Taoiseach has agreed to a deal whereby the Irish people will be paying substantially more while the programmes most important to us are significantly cut.
“Put simply, this is a disastrous deal for Irish farming and for rural communities,” Carthy concluded.
Read more
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The EU budget deal announced on Tuesday morning will be disastrous for Irish family farms and the rural communities that depend on them, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy has said.
In a cutting assessment of the deal, Carthy said: “Behind the spin of Government, one thing from this deal is clear; Irish farmers and rural communities are the big losers.
“It appears that Micheál Martin approached these negotiations in the same manner as he did government formation talks; agree to a deal at any price.”
This is at a time when Irish family farmers need more support, not less
The Cavan-Monaghan TD drew particular attention to the halving of a proposed €15bn fund for rural development schemes that will come from a €750bn recovery fund.
“In real terms, the budget line towards the Common Agriculture Policy has been cut by 9% and yet it is clear that there will be additional bureaucracy and costs associated with drawing down the funds. This is at a time when Irish family farmers need more support, not less.
“Suggestions that the losses will be offset by a €300m Pillar II ‘top-up’ or via the Brexit emergency fund will not wash with farmers,” Carthy warned.
It appears that the Taoiseach has agreed to a deal whereby the Irish people will be paying substantially more
Farmers were already under pressure, he said, and cuts to their payments could spell the end for them.
“Big questions also remain as to how much additional EU spending Irish taxpayers will be expected to fork out, and how much we will get in return.
“It appears that the Taoiseach has agreed to a deal whereby the Irish people will be paying substantially more while the programmes most important to us are significantly cut.
“Put simply, this is a disastrous deal for Irish farming and for rural communities,” Carthy concluded.
Read more
CAP cut ‘nonsensical’ considering climate change demands - ICOS
Government must make good on any CAP reduction - ICMSA
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