EU welcomes online publication of agricultural fund recipients

THE European Commission Representation in Ireland has welcomed a decision by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to publish EU payments to Irish farmers on its website from September 30.

Martin Territt, director of the commission’s representation in Dublin said last year alone, Ireland got about 2 billion in agriculture and rural development funds. He said that since Ireland joined the EU, it has received about €40bn in agricultural support.

Mr Territt said this is taxpayers’ money and it is very important that people know how it is spent.

It is hoped that openness and transparency will improve the management of these funds.

“The member state governments have all agreed that this is the right thing to do,” he said.

Mr Territt said the department’s website will give the name of the person or company, with the county where they are based and the amount received by way of EU agricultural funding.

Publication of the Common Agricultural Policy beneficiary details on the website is now a mandatory EU requirement.

However, Fine Gael spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Michael Ring, TD, warned that farmers in receipt of EU subsidies could become the target of roaming criminal gangs because of the new regulations.

“This is a terrible invasion of privacy and could well lead to farmers being the target of criminal gangs in search of easy pickings.

“I have been contacted by many people who are very distressed and upset by this outlandish regulation,” he said.

Mr Ring said these farmers would not have minded a general or total amount of the monies being received in each county being published.

But under the new requirement, he said: “They are going to be put more at risk. This is very wrong that payments to each individual farmer will be available online for public viewing.”