The minister spoke across a wide range of issues in a two hour engagment with the IFA AGM, accompanied by Ministers of State Michael Healy-Rae, Noel Grealish and Timmy Dooley.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon described farmer and consumer anger as “entirely understandable” given that beef using hormones banned in the EU entered the Irish market last year before being recalled by the European Commission.
“It is my intention to ensure that commitments that have been made by the European Commission in terms of stepping up checks and audits [of third country food production] are honoured,” he said.
IFA president Francie Gorman replied that as only a handful of such audits currently occur, a percentage increase was of little real meaning.
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Heydon expressed doubt that negotiations for the next CAP for 2028-2035 would be completed under the Irish presidency. “We hold the presidency of the EU this year from July onwards and it’s my intention to make progress on these reforms,” he said.
“I do believe complacency has crept in across Europe when it comes to food security – it’s not something that we’ve ever taken for granted in this country, due to our history,” added the minister.
He also highlighted the improvement in ACRES payments; from 73% paid when he took office a year ago to 96% paid now. On nature restoration, he pledged that farmers would only take part on a voluntary basis, and that it would be “new money” supporting them. “One place it won’t come from is the CAP,” he said.
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Title: Anger over trade deal is 'understandable'
The minister spoke across a wide range of issues in a two hour engagment with the IFA AGM, accompanied by Ministers of State Michael Healy-Rae, Noel Grealish and Timmy Dooley.
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Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon described farmer and consumer anger as “entirely understandable” given that beef using hormones banned in the EU entered the Irish market last year before being recalled by the European Commission.
“It is my intention to ensure that commitments that have been made by the European Commission in terms of stepping up checks and audits [of third country food production] are honoured,” he said.
IFA president Francie Gorman replied that as only a handful of such audits currently occur, a percentage increase was of little real meaning.
Heydon expressed doubt that negotiations for the next CAP for 2028-2035 would be completed under the Irish presidency. “We hold the presidency of the EU this year from July onwards and it’s my intention to make progress on these reforms,” he said.
“I do believe complacency has crept in across Europe when it comes to food security – it’s not something that we’ve ever taken for granted in this country, due to our history,” added the minister.
He also highlighted the improvement in ACRES payments; from 73% paid when he took office a year ago to 96% paid now. On nature restoration, he pledged that farmers would only take part on a voluntary basis, and that it would be “new money” supporting them. “One place it won’t come from is the CAP,” he said.
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