Representatives from all major political parties were present at an IFA event in Dublin on the importance of a strong CAP budget in 2020 this Wednesday.

IFA president Joe Healy highlighted that CAP was a vital means of support for rural Ireland, bringing €1.8bn into the country.

Healy stressed that cuts to the CAP of 5% to 10% proposed by the EU budget commissioner Gunther Oettinger were unacceptable.

"The ball is very much in our politicians and our negotiator's court, to show their loyalty back to us as farmers to support the European vision," Healy said.

The IFA has proposed increased contributions to the EU budget from member states to 1.2% of gross national income to deal with the drop in funding post-Brexit.

Paying farmers

IFA North Tippeary Chair Imelda Walsh pointed out the important role farmers play in supplying the food chain.

We cannot be expected to work for nothing

"The CAP provides cheap sustainable food, produced to the highest quality standards," Walsh said.

"During Storm Emma we saw shelves empty in the supermarkets, and the reliance on produce from farmers, so to this end the budget has to be increased and farmers have to get their fair share, we cannot be expected to work for nothing."

Brexit

The leader of Sinn Féin Mary-Lou McDonald stated that important questions needed to be answered given the potential impact of Brexit.

"There's no doubt that Brexit is a game-changer for Ireland all round, and not least for farming and for agribusiness, so there will be hole in the budget," McDonald told the Irish Farmers Journal.

"The question being posed quite legitimately is how does that get filled and why should Irish farmers and rural Ireland suffer because of decision made by Britain?"

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