IFA Welcomes the Taoiseach’s Highlighting of Agriculture at Today’s European Council Meeting

IFA President Tim Cullinan said that it was important that the Taoiseach raised the need for further EU support at today’s European Council meeting.

“The package announced by the EU Commissioner for Agriculture is a long way short of what’s needed, given the major collapse in exports and prices that agricultural markets have taken,” he said

“Our Government needs to increase the pressure at EU level for a much more substantial financial package, including direct payment aid,” he said.

“Additionally, the Government must also look at its own resources to help beef farmers. State aid limits have been increased which would allow our Government to step in and help beef finishers in particular, who are being wiped out financially at current prices,” he said.

Tim Cullinan said IFA has put detailed proposals to Minister Creed and the Department of Agriculture to immediately introduce a direct payment aid scheme for beef finishers, utilising unused funds from last year’s BEAM scheme.