Taoiseach Has to Make CAP Budget His ‘Red Line’ Issue

Reacting to the EU Commission’s proposals on the next EU Budget, IFA President Joe Healy said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has a big political challenge on his hands, and an increased CAP Budget for Irish farmers has to be a red line issue for him in the negotiations.

He says this morning’s proposal from Commissioner Oettinger of a reduction in the CAP budget post-2020 is a big blow for Irish farmers.

“It is clear that the Commission has moved to fill the Brexit gap, but they have prioritised other areas at the expense of the CAP, which is another setback for Irish farmers on foot of the UK decision to leave,” he said.

The IFA President said there is a huge task for the Irish Government, the Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and our MEPs to get an increase in the CAP budget. “They must pull out all the stops and reject the cuts agenda by the Commission,” he said.

Joe Healy said, “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”.