Questionable assumptions about CAP reforms
While I do not propose to address all of these, there are a number of points which, if left unchallenged, would do a grave disservice to your readers.
There is no basis whatsoever for the statement suggesting that the latest proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy would lead to a reduction of another 30,000 farmers.
Contrary to what was implied, the proposals are not designed to reduce the cost of extending the CAP to new EU member states.
The proposals, in fact, do not alter the overall cost of the CAP but attempt to re-orientate support to make the CAP more sustainable in the long term.
The CAP has been of enormous benefit to Irish agriculture and the Irish economy in general. Almost 32 billion has been transferred from the EU to support Irish agriculture, not to mention the benefits to the sector of access to EU markets of over 300 million people.
The proposals published this week will require much clarification and evaluation and will be subject to a lengthy period of negotiations.
I will oppose adamantly any changes that diminish the benefits of the Agenda 2000 Agreement and am resolved to obtain the best outcome for Irish farming.
Contrary to the advice proffered to farmers in the article, the way to ensure that we will have the strongest negotiating hand in the months ahead is to vote Yes to the Nice Treaty.
It would be particularly ironic if, in a mistaken attempt to protect our agricultural interests, Irish farmers were to exclude from the European Union a group of countries who are, in the main, even more dependent on agriculture than Ireland is and who therefore would provide precisely the kind of allies we should welcome.
Joe Walsh TD,
Minister for Agriculture and Food
