€1,000bn EU budget talks set to resume

Ireland is battling to ensure as big a slice of EU funds as possible as EU leaders gather in Brussels to finalise a seven-year budget of close to €1,000bn.

Irish farmers, who account for about 85% of what the country receives, will also be in Brussels and will meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny before the meeting to ensure he understands their demands.

They say Ireland should get funding worth a potential €11bn to the economy over the seven-year period. However, in real terms, the amount going to farming will decrease every year over the lifetime of the budget, but for the next few years, Ireland will continue to receive more than it pays in.