Farmers and ministers split over CAP

EUROPE'S agriculture ministers and Ireland's farming organisations are split over the radical reforms of the Common Agriculture Policy.

The plan, which could see farmers' incomes cut by a fifth over six years, was debated by the EU's agriculture ministers yesterday in Brussels for the first time since being unveiled last week.

Minister Joe Walsh is to set up a consultative group to look at the effects of the proposals, which aim to change the way Europe's farmers qualify for subsidies of about 4 billion euro a year, or half the cost of running the EU.