SECURING CAP BUDGET AND FLEXIBILITY MUST BE THE PRIORITY FOR GOVERNMENT – BRYAN

IFA President John Bryan has said that Member States must have the flexibility to implement a Single Farm Payment system after 2013 that supports active, productive farmers.  “The Department of the Agriculture has put forward a suggestion for an approximation system. However, much more work needs to be done to deliver a solution that targets the Single Farm Payment at active, productive farmers and minimises disruption at farm level.”

John Bryan said the priority for the Government must be to secure the full budget in Europe to protect Ireland’s national envelope under Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, and to secure flexibility in the distribution of funds that will address the concerns of farmers.

He said, “The Commission proposals to move to a uniform per-hectare payment by 2019 is of serious concern for Irish farmers and will cause huge disruption at farm level, and must be rejected outright by the Minister for Agriculture. It is too simplistic a proposal, as it takes no account of the major differences in productive capacity of land across Ireland and is not supportive of the active farmer.”

Concluding, John Bryan said, “Member states must be given the flexibility to implement a payment system that supports production, ensures viable farm businesses, and reflects production patterns.”

IFA President John Bryan has said that Member States must have the flexibility to implement a Single Farm Payment system after 2013 that supports active, productive farmers.  “The Department of the Agriculture has put forward a suggestion for an approximation system. However, much more work needs to be done to deliver a solution that targets the Single Farm Payment at active, productive farmers and minimises disruption at farm level.”

John Bryan said the priority for the Government must be to secure the full budget in Europe to protect Ireland’s national envelope under Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, and to secure flexibility in the distribution of funds that will address the concerns of farmers.

He said, “The Commission proposals to move to a uniform per-hectare payment by 2019 is of serious concern for Irish farmers and will cause huge disruption at farm level, and must be rejected outright by the Minister for Agriculture. It is too simplistic a proposal, as it takes no account of the major differences in productive capacity of land across Ireland and is not supportive of the active farmer.”

Concluding, John Bryan said, “Member states must be given the flexibility to implement a payment system that supports production, ensures viable farm businesses, and reflects production patterns.”