CAP reform could hit Irish agriculture

A FUNDAMENTAL shift in European Union policy, which could change the face of Irish agriculture, was how Minister Joe Walsh yesterday described the CAP reform proposals.

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.