Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed urged caution after opposition political parties joined forces to support a €60,000 maximum direct payment under new CAP rules after 2020.

Fianna Fáil’s agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue called on the minister to ensure the ceiling is adopted at EU level without “loopholes”.

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He was joined by his counterparts from Labour Willie Penrose and Sinn Féin Martin Kenny. Deputy Kenny called for front-loading of payments with the first 10ha to 15ha receiving €400 and the next 10 to 15ha €250, ensuring a payment of €8,000 to €10,000 for the average Irish farmer.

“I believe in a cap,” Minister Creed told the Irish Farmers Journal, but “there are significant voices who are opposed to it”. “The idea of large payments to conglomerates and industry is something that jars with a lot of taxpayers who are supportive of CAP but would see this as somewhat unfair,” he said. However, he warned of unintended consequences for farms employing more staff or managing several holdings under one herd number.