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.