5,000 farmers protest CAP reform amid fears of ‘huge damage’ to agriculture

More than 5,000 farmers protested outside a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Dublin Castle yesterday to voice concerns about CAP reform proposals.

IFA president John Bryan said EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos’s drive to introduce a mandatory minimum payment would disrupt Irish production, and direct funds away from viable, active farmers. He urged Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to fight to retain the flexibilities agreed with France and other EU allies at March’s Farm Council meeting.

“If these flexibilities are lost, it will be a watershed moment for his credibility,” said Mr Bryan. “We are now in the final stages of this negotiation. The minister received backing from his Farm Council colleagues in March, and he cannot concede anything more to the commissioner.

“A mandatory minimum payment would destroy the minister’s approximation model and lead to a level of redistribution that would be hugely damaging for Irish agriculture, resulting in a serious loss in output, jobs and exports for the Irish economy.”

Mr Coveney said the past two days of trilogue talks — involving the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission — had edged the participants closer to an agreement on CAP reforms. He remains confident all political impediments to a deal can be ironed out before the end of June.

“Above all, these talks have reinforced my confidence that I will be able to present a package of measures to the Council at the end of June that will allow us to finalise an overall political agreement within the timescale we set for ourselves at the commencement of the Irish Presidency,” said Mr Coveney.

He said that all three EU institutions had a meaningful exchange of ideas over the past two days. He said the Council would now reflect on these exchanges and have follow-up discussions on how the resolution of political issues might be pursued.

“I have listened very carefully to member states’ views on the issues discussed,” said Mr Coveney. These views will inform the [EU] Presidency’s ongoing interaction with the Parliament and the Commission as we try to reach an accommodation over the remaining trilogues and the parallel political discussions in the coming weeks.”

ICMSA president John Comer said that he was satisfied that Mr Coveney understands that what is at stake in discussions is nothing less than Ireland’s farming model.

“There can be no possibility of further compromise on this fundamental matter, or our production model will be devastated,” said Mr Comer. “It’s as simple as that.”