IFA President John Bryan has welcomed the commitments given by Fianna Fail,
Fine Gael and the Labour Party in their manifestos to defend Ireland’s CAP
funding through the Single Farm Payment.

Mr Bryan said, “the three main parties recognise the importance of a strong
CAP post-2013 if the agri-food sector is to realise the potential identified
in the Food Harvest 2020 Strategy.”

Commenting following the launch yesterday of the Fine Gael and the Labour
party’s agricultural manifestos, the IFA leader said “in Fine Gael’s case,
the party ‘will prioritise the Single Farm Payment which benefits active
farmers’, and Labour ‘will work to retain our €1.3 billion CAP funding
envelope. Our negotiating position at EU level is predicated on retaining
this envelope.”

He said, “Fine Gael has also recognised that farm schemes are a significant
part of farm income and it is critical that any new Government must keep the
AEOS open for those farmers leaving REPS 3.”

John Bryan welcomed the focus that Fine Gael is putting on reducing costs
and their pledge to exempt farm diesel from further increases in the carbon
tax, which would damage the sector’s competiveness.

The IFA President also welcomed the commitment from both parties to
introduce legislation to ensure equity in the food supply chain. “It is
vital that there is statutory backing for regulation of the retail sector,
and enforcement to guarantee a fair price for the primary producer that pays
a margin.”

Concluding, John Bryan said, “Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Labour Party
are keenly aware of the contribution that farming and food can play in our
economic recovery by driving growth in exports and jobs. The next Government
must pursue policies that allow the sector to deliver on its potential and
improve the incomes of farm families.”

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