Wealthiest producers benefited from CAP

ON December 16 (Irish Examiner letters), Edmund Phelan expressed his dismay at the call for the abolition of all subsidies to farmers.

On December 24, in reply to my December 21 criticism, again through your letters page, he says he never mentioned subsidies.

I am now not sure where he stands on the issue and so it is difficult indeed to tell whether our views are “diametrically opposed” or not.

In fact, I am sure we could agree easily on a number of issues.

Mr Phelan must see that there are questions of equity attached to the system of agricultural support built into CAP from the beginning.

The largest benefits went to the wealthiest and largest producers.

“Third World prices at First World costs” is a slogan, not an argument, and makes little economic sense.

Preventing Third World countries from selling their goods in our markets only impoverishes them - which is immoral - and reduces our living standards, which is unnecessary.

Ireland’s Celtic tiger status is largely generated from the benefits of trade. Would Mr Phelan turn back the clock to the poverty-stricken protectionist model of the 1950s?

In mentioning the time period required by farmers to respond to changes in prices, Mr Phelan touches on one possible justification for price supports in his industry.

However, this doesn’t justify the extent to which CAP has consumed the bulk of the EU budget for years.

Nor would it be necessary for us to go hungry in the meantime.

Import what is required, as we do with other necessities such as oil, without which agriculture could not function.

James McGrath

Birchgrove

Hollyford

Co Tipperary