The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is “up there in lights” when it comes to the Irish Government's negotiations with Brussels around the next EU budget, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.

He told the Irish Farmers Journal at Tullamore Show that there is a long way to go in relation to the next EU budget, but said that he has received Government agreement for Ireland’s budget priorities for that discussion.

“CAP is up there in lights in terms of a major priority for Ireland,” he said.

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With the current proposal on the table indicating a cut to CAP funding, the Tánaiste refused to say whether the Irish Government would step in to make up any shortfall in CAP funding.

However, he said that the Government would build alliances in the weeks ahead to ensure that any future EU budget has a well-funded and ring-fenced CAP.

“It’s absolutely essential.

“I don’t want to concede anything in a negotiation, I know how this works and the rhythm that goes with it,” he said.

Unacceptable

He said it is “utterly unacceptable” to the Government of Ireland not to have a single ring-fenced properly funded CAP.

“The good news is we’re not alone in relation to this. I believe that will be the view of an overwhelming number of member states.

"Come what may, the Irish Government is going to back farming, not because we want to do it, because we have to do it. It’s a major part of the Irish economy.

“I said when I became leader of my party and I say it again today, it’s about time that we start backing farming, not talking down to farmers, not making farmers think that they are to blame for every challenge or ill the world faces, but in good times and in bad, when others come and go, farmers are still here,” he said.