IFA: CAP reform would impact badly on farmers

The Irish Farmers Association has claimed that the proposed EU reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy would have serious detrimental effects on Irish farmers.

Spokesman Matt O'Keefe said: "What we're looking at being proposed is a severe reduction in price to farmers, resulting obviously in a severe income cut.

"We are looking at a proposal from [Agriculture Commission] Franz Fischler that only 55% compensation would be allowed for those price cuts, so the impact on dairy farms in Ireland could be extremely serious."

Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the talks in Luxembourg, Minister Walsh vowed to do all he could to protect the interests of Irish farmers.

"I want to retain the substantial support for farming and for agriculture in Ireland and I want to reduce the bureaucracy and red tape in farmers obtaining that support," he said.