Dillon: average farm income just €6,000 without EU

WITHOUT the new European Union single farm payment, farmers would have an average income of €6,000, the Irish Farmers Association declared yesterday.

The average payment is €10,000. President John Dillon spoke after figures released under the Freedom of Information Act showed Larry Goodman’s company, Irish Agricultural Development, will get a total of €508,390 in Common Agricultural Policy payments.

Mr Dillon, speaking at a lunch on the fringes of the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, said he did not wish to comment on any individual payment.