Fears over CAP reform talks

THE Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association is extremely worried that “the worst of all worlds” is likely to be the outcome of the stalled EU CAP reform talks, due to resume today.

John Deegan, president, said there is closer alignment between France and Germany but this is likely to result in a decision that is detrimental to Irish farming.

“Mr Fischler’s reform proposals are balanced in general and this is becoming ever more apparent as we see the lack of clear and sensible alternatives at Council of Ministers level,” he said.

Mr Deegan again called on Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh to reject partial decoupling.

He said there is a risk this move will not achieve the intended results.

On the one hand, the lack of courage needed to embrace full decoupling will result in as much bureaucracy as ever, he said.

But on the other hand, the retention of coupled payments for the suckler cow and sheep sector will mean that there can be no adjustment of production in line with market realities.

This will result in the further depression of beef and lamb prices, he said.

“Worse still is the likelihood that the partial decoupling route would seriously compromise European Union agriculture at the WTO negotiations,” Mr Deegan said. The ICSA convened an emergency national executive meeting yesterday evening in order to discuss the state of play.