IFA slams proposed CAP reform

The Irish Farmers Association has criticised the European Commission’s proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, saying it would reduce payments to farmers by €300m annually.

The EC has proposed ending the link between subsidies and production levels and making future subsidies conditional on meeting environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards.

Irish farmers, as well as their colleagues in France and Spain, have vowed to pressure the commission to improve the package.

IFA president John Dillon said: "These new proposals are going to take €300m annually out of farmers’ pockets and will certainly damage the employment section in Ireland.

"It will certainly impact negative on beef, grain and sheep farmers. We are going to reject it totally out of hand and we’re not accepting this."