IFA Rural Development Committee chairman Flor McCarthy has urged the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to speed up the process for making the submission to the EU Commission on the details of Ireland’s Rural Development Plan, as the process for making submissions has started with some countries ready to make their case.

Speaking from Brussels following a meeting of the EU Advisory Committee on Rural Development, Flor McCarthy said: “With the consultation phase on Ireland’s plan completed, the Minister must move to the details stage with the plan being submitted at the earliest possible date to the EU Commission.”

With some member states and regional plans out of a total of 114 ready to be submitted, EU Commission officials have told IFA that schemes can be implemented later in the year provided there is sufficient time to examine each country’s case.

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Crucial schemes

Flor McCarthy said the crucial schemes which farmers are keenly awaiting are the GLAS agri- environment measure and the new farm investment grant scheme. “IFA has already made a detailed submission across all measures following the draft proposals which were published by the Minister last January.

‘‘There are many issues to be resolved before the formal submission to Brussels and it is vital that the details are thrashed out well in advance.”

The Rural Development Committee chairman said crucial to the success of the RDP and the drawdown of the €4bn available over the next seven years will be meaningful schemes, which affect farm income, contribute to boosting agricultural production and help in sustaining the rural economy.

Protest on beef cuts

IFA protested outside the Department of Agriculture over devastating factory beef price cuts and specification changes. These measures are eroding confidence in the beef sector, especially in winter finishing. The move by the factories to hit prime in-spec steers and heifers with new price and weight cuts is a step too far. Charter negotiations

IFA deputy president Tim O’Leary said the negotiations on a new Charter of Rights for farmers started with the Department of Agriculture in Portlaoise this week. He said: “IFA has a strong agenda of issues that must be addressed. The fear in farm families over inspections is unacceptable and must be dealt with in the charter.’’

IFA meets co-ops

IFA National Dairy Committee chairman Sean O’Leary said at the current round of top-level meetings with co-op leaders, IFA president Eddie Downey and himself were addressing robustly a broad dairy agenda of concern to all dairy farmers. The subjects range from current milk prices to longer-term development plans.

President attends Monaghan AGM

IFA president Eddie Downey attended the Monaghan IFA AGM as the guest speaker. He said: “IFA is calling on Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to start AEOS 3 payments and to proceed with TAMS approvals for farmers who applied in the last tranche which closed at the end of December.”

Connemara meetings

Connemara IFA held a meeting with the Department of Agriculture in Clifden recently. The meeting was addressed by guest speakers Connacht IFA regional chairman Tom Turley, IFA Rural Development Committee executive Gerry Gunning and Galway IFA county chairman Michael Flynn.

Taxation implications

IFA president Eddie Downey said the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney must address the significant taxation implications associated with his proposals to transfer entitlements from lessors to lessees to protect the SFP payments under the new CAP arrangements, in cases where the entire holding and all entitlements are leased out.