Agriculture Minister has ‘profound reservations’ over EU trade talks

MINISTER for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney has revealed he has profound reservations about the trade negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur group of countries.

In a wide-ranging address to the AGM of the Agriculture Consultants Association, Minister Coveney said that, during his first two weeks in office, he had taken the opportunity to express his “strongly-held views” on the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the ongoing trade negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur group of countries.

The minister welcomed the “new positivity around agriculture and food and the increasing realisation about the role the sector can play in driving economic recovery”.

Minister Coveney reiterated his commitment to defend Ireland’s current allocation of CAP funds and reassured the AGM of his “absolute determination to engage positively with our European colleagues and the EU Commission to ensure that Ireland’s interests are protected”.

Following his first meeting of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels, and meetings with the French and Spanish agriculture ministers, he said he had “profound reservations” about the trade talks between the EU and the South American group of countries.

Referring to the economic challenge facing the country, Mr Coveney confirmed that the Government is “committed to achieving the savings targets set out in the National Recovery Plan”.

He claimed he “will have to achieve savings of a further €120m in the years to 2014, beginning with €60m in 2012 and a further €40m and €20m in the following two years”.

Mr Coveney told the AGM he had already begun a review of all aspects of his department’s spending and their agencies.