Farmers must have a say on CAP reform plans

Q&AÉamon Ó Cuív, TD

Farmers who feel they haven’t enough input into the direction that agricultural policy should take will welcome the plan of Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture Éamon Ó Cuív, for a series of meetings throughout the country to gauge opinions on CAP reform.

He says it is absolutely vital that the ordinary farmers of Ireland have an input.

“There is a need for an open debate on all of the ramifications of the various proposals put forward to date in relation to CAP reform.

“Many farmers are still unaware of the various alternatives, including the options put forward by the Commissioner, Mr Ciolos, the option put forward by Minister Simon Coveney, and the option put forward by the Rapporteur of the European Parliament, Capoulas Santos.

Mr Ó Cuív says he has an open mind as to the final formulation that CAP reform should take, and believes it is far too early in the negotiations to come down in favour of any particular proposal.

* What details, such as venues, have you so far of your nationwide CAP reform meetings?

>>I will be attending meetings organised by Fianna Fáil tonight in Glenties, Co Donegal; Monday at 9pm in the Glenamaddy Community Centre, Co Galway; Thursday, Dec 6 at 8.30pm in the Woodlands Hotel, Adare, Co Limerick; and Friday, Dec 7 at 8pm in the Joyce Country, Co Galway. Further meetings will be organised in Meath, Kilkenny, Monaghan, Mayo and Sligo.

* Are you over-estimating farmer interest in CAP reform? Is it too early to get interested ahead of overall EU budget agreement and at least six months of CAP talks?

>>I do not think it is too early to engage with the process of CAP reform as a large portion of the final policies are decided early in the process, with the final document reflecting much of the original proposals with amendments rather than total re-writing. Farmers are certainly interested, if the attendance and demand for meetings is anything to go by.

* You have warned that the 70% of farmers in Ireland who get a single payment of less than €10,000 may be ignored. Do they need to make their voices heard?

>>All farmers should inform themselves on the various proposals and have an input. The final Irish position should reflect all of the various aims of the CAP, of which increased production is just one, but which also has environment, rural development, sustaining farm incomes, and food security aims, to mention just a few.

It is particularly important that small farmers and farmers on marginal or poor land (land with natural constraints) be protected.

* Will the really big political decisions in Ireland have to wait until CAP talks are finished and we know what CAP framework we have to work in? What will be the main factors behind those decisions?

>>The real big decisions are being made now and to influence the final document, you have to get in early. This is the reason that the minister tabled his proposals so early in the process. My contention is that he did this without adequate consultation with stakeholders.

* As overall EU budget talks continue, how have CAP prospects for Ireland changed?

>>At the moment, CAP prospects for Ireland are receding rapidly in real terms. From the beginning, we were conceding 7%, and it looks as if the final real decrease in funding will be much larger than that. This will be a major blow to Irish agriculture.