| Following a meeting with the Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore, IFA President John Bryan said he had a wide-ranging and productive discussion on a number of important issues concerning the agriculture sector in the year ahead. The IFA delegation, which included IFA European Director Michael Treacy, highlighted the CAP talks and the Mercosur trade deal as key European issues for the farming sector. John Bryan said, “the negotiations around the CAP post-2013 will intensify in the coming months and we emphasised to Eamon Gilmore the importance of retaining our full national envelope of funding.” On Mercosur, the IFA President said any deal would be very damaging for Irish agriculture, and particularly the livestock sector. He urged Mr Gilmore to seek political support from other countries across Europe of a trade policy that would have serious consequences if pursued any further. At the meeting with Mr Gilmore and his colleagues Sean Sherlock and Willie Penrose, Mr Bryan emphasised the importance of continuing Government support for farming, as a key stimulus for growth in exports and jobs which will be a significant element in the country’s economic recovery. Caption - IFA President John Bryan briefs Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore on agricultural issues of concern |
Saturday, 08 January 2011 11:23