Proposed cuts to the CAP budget are a major threat to farming in Ireland and must be strongly resisted, IFA president Joe Healy has said, following the launch of CAP 2020 proposals by European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan in Brussels last week.

“The fundamental issue for farmers is the size of the CAP budget. It is completely unacceptable that any cut is being contemplated when farmers are already struggling on low incomes and are being asked to do more under CAP proposals.

“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must make it clear at EU heads of state level that the recent Commission proposals on the CAP budget are a non-runner.

Inflation

Healy said: “The Taoiseach must insist on an increased budget to take account of inflation and the cost of any additional measures imposed on farmers. Minister Creed met with like-minded Ministers for Agriculture to build alliances on this issue yesterday and this must be followed up by the Government to ensure farmers are not left short in the Budget negotiations. The future of farming and rural Ireland is at stake.”

He said the proposals on the budget from the Commission are a not a ‘‘fair’’ outcome and farmers would see through any attempt to put a spin on the situation. “The proposals are unfair and unacceptable and must be rejected,” he said.

Healy added: “All sectors have shared in the economic revival, yet farmers have had their direct payments eroded by inflation.

‘‘At the very least, farmers need a CAP increase in line with inflation.”

Now that the details of the CAP proposals have been released, the IFA will be intensifying its campaign to ensure that direct payments continue to play a significant part in supporting active farmers and reflect the important role farmers play in the provision of public goods. This will include lobbying at a national and EU level, engaging with MEPs and TDs.

The IFA has already lobbied more than 80 TDs and senators, where there was strong support for farmers and the CAP as vital to support low incomes.