Political clash over cash cut

A DISPUTE over €10 per week for suckler cattle farmers in 2005 has triggered a political row on the eve of tomorrow's elections.

Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party chairman Seamus Kirk turned on Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh this week, describing as "ludicrous", a last minute announcement that farmers will get only €20 million of the €30 million of National Envelope funding committed to by EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler, Minister Joe Walsh, and senior officials.

The Louth Dáil Deputy, a European candidate for the East constituency, called on the Department of Agriculture to challenge the decision to remove €10 million coming into the Single Payment Scheme for suckler farmers from National Envelope in the reference years of 2000, 2001 and 2002.