CAP reform could hit Irish agriculture
He was speaking after a meeting in Dublin with the IFA, ICMSA, Macra na Feirme and the co-ops umbrella body, ICOS.
It took place as EU agriculture ministers prepared to discuss Franz Fischler’s proposals for the first time at a Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday. Minister Walsh said he appreciated and shared the concerns of the farm organisations about the serious effects of the proposals.
He made it clear he intends to present his views forcibly at the council, which will signal the start of intensive negotiations lasting several months.
Mr Walsh said the sectoral consultative groups, which he had set up and which had operated so successfully in the Agenda 2000 talks, will continue to meet as the negotiations progress.
IFA President John Dillon said the minister had recognised the gravity of the situation and had given his commitment to face down the greatest challenge to Irish agriculture since joining the EU over 30 years ago.
The losses from the proposed cuts would severely damage the rural economy and would have to be fully resisted by the Irish government. He said the first test for the minister will be on Monday in Brussels where Commissioner Fischler will try to push through agreement in principle by the farm ministers for his proposals.
Mr Dillon said Minister Walsh and the Government could not concede this point of principle, as the commissioner would railroad through his proposals given the slightest political nod from the Farm Council.
ICMSA president Pat O Rourke said he had strongly impressed upon the minister the need completely to reject the Fischler proposals. A government and social partners approach was needed. The proposals were tied in with EU offers at WTO and it was essential that the Government defend Ireland’s trade interests in food and agriculture at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers next week.
