ICSA angered at exclusion from CAP reform talks

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association has lashed out at its exclusion from national talks on the EU's planned reform of the Common Agriculture Policy.

The Government has set up the talks with the so-called "social partners" to discuss how to implement the planned reforms, which have been strongly criticised by the IFA and ICMSA.

However, the ICSA, which has consistently supported EU plans to break the link between subsidies and production levels, has not been invited to attend.

ICSA president John Deegan said this morning that his organisation had earned the right to participate by adopting a pragmatic approach to CAP reform.