Deputy Conlan stresses importance of Agri- CAP payments to local economy

Fine Gael Dail Deputy for Cavan/Monaghan, Seán Conlan, has this week stressed the critical importance of successful EU agriculture CAP budget negotiations to the local Irish economy.

He added that the present CAP reform proposals of European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos,  would be totally unacceptable to Ireland and to the farmers of Ireland and stressed that proposed CAP reforms must be resisted.

“CAP negotiations with the EU Commission are now at the start of what will be a lengthy process but a successful outcome for Irish farmers from these negotiations will have positive implications that go much wider than just the farming community. These payments also represent a huge financial injection to the wider local economies of Monaghan and Cavan which help to sustain businesses and ultimately jobs.  CAP payments also represent a positive injection to the overall Irish economy,” stressed Deputy Conlan.

Deputy Conlan welcomed the fact that the Commissioner has given assurances that the national envelope would only be cut by 1%. “Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD has stressed to the EU Commission that it is of critical importance, that maximum funding and flexibility for rural development are kept at current levels on behalf of farmers in Ireland as well as other member states between 2014 and 2020 in order to implement the payment models and transitional arrangements that best suit the farming conditions of each state,” said Deputy Conlan.

“The existing CAP system of direct payments rewards farmers for good, clean environmentally friendly food production. However, the new system, as proposed by the Commission, would tend to reward those only with the most hectares”

Deputy Conlan also stated that the present ‘greening’ proposal within the reform proposals would, in his opinion, put Ireland at a great disadvantage. “Given that we export 80% of everything we produce  we are committed to Harvest 2020 which would hopefully increase production across the board”.

“Tough but achievable targets in Food Harvest 2020 on agricultural productions represent an increase to the overall value of primary output of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by €1.5 billion, a 33% increase compared to the 2007-2009 average. The targets also aim to increase milk production by 50%, to add 20% to the value of both the beef and the sheep sector as well as a further 50% to the value of pigmeat,” added Deputy Conlan.

“It is also very fortunate that Ireland will have the Presidency of the European Union in 2013 and that, as a result, Ireland will also chair the all important agriculture committees. Minister Coveney has stated that he wants the present CAP reform negotiations finalised during his term in the Agriculture Chair of the Commission and I have every confidence that he will be successful,” concluded Deputy Conlan.

Fine Gael Dail Deputy for Cavan/Monaghan, Seán Conlan, has this week stressed the critical importance of successful EU agriculture CAP budget negotiations to the local Irish economy.

He added that the present CAP reform proposals of European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos,  would be totally unacceptable to Ireland and to the farmers of Ireland and stressed that proposed CAP reforms must be resisted.

“CAP negotiations with the EU Commission are now at the start of what will be a lengthy process but a successful outcome for Irish farmers from these negotiations will have positive implications that go much wider than just the farming community. These payments also represent a huge financial injection to the wider local economies of Monaghan and Cavan which help to sustain businesses and ultimately jobs.  CAP payments also represent a positive injection to the overall Irish economy,” stressed Deputy Conlan.

Deputy Conlan welcomed the fact that the Commissioner has given assurances that the national envelope would only be cut by 1%. “Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD has stressed to the EU Commission that it is of critical importance, that maximum funding and flexibility for rural development are kept at current levels on behalf of farmers in Ireland as well as other member states between 2014 and 2020 in order to implement the payment models and transitional arrangements that best suit the farming conditions of each state,” said Deputy Conlan.

“The existing CAP system of direct payments rewards farmers for good, clean environmentally friendly food production. However, the new system, as proposed by the Commission, would tend to reward those only with the most hectares”

Deputy Conlan also stated that the present ‘greening’ proposal within the reform proposals would, in his opinion, put Ireland at a great disadvantage. “Given that we export 80% of everything we produce  we are committed to Harvest 2020 which would hopefully increase production across the board”.

“Tough but achievable targets in Food Harvest 2020 on agricultural productions represent an increase to the overall value of primary output of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by €1.5 billion, a 33% increase compared to the 2007-2009 average. The targets also aim to increase milk production by 50%, to add 20% to the value of both the beef and the sheep sector as well as a further 50% to the value of pigmeat,” added Deputy Conlan.

“It is also very fortunate that Ireland will have the Presidency of the European Union in 2013 and that, as a result, Ireland will also chair the all important agriculture committees. Minister Coveney has stated that he wants the present CAP reform negotiations finalised during his term in the Agriculture Chair of the Commission and I have every confidence that he will be successful,” concluded Deputy Conlan.