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Coveney welcomes 'step forward' in CAP reform negotiations

However the Irish Farmers’ Association said the proposals “still represent unacceptable cuts for thousands of Irish farmers”.

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, today welcomed what he described as a “very helpful step forward” in the Common Agricultural Policy reform negotiations.

He said EU agriculture ministers broadly supported most proposals tabled by the Irish Presidency relating to distribution of payments.

EU agriculture ministers today held a comprehensive discussion on a package of proposals tabled by the Irish Presidency dealing with the issue of how to distribute direct payments within member states.

The Department of Agriculture said the package aims to give more flexibility to member states as they try to reconcile the need for greater convergence in payments with the need to ensure that any new arrangements are consistent with their individual farming conditions.

Speaking today, Coveney said he was pleased that his European counterparts showed a readiness to move forward on the issue of how to distribute direct payments.

The department said the overall tenor was “very supportive of the approach adopted by the Presidency”, though in some cases that support was conditional on progress in other areas, or on further improvements to the text.

However President of the Irish Farmers’ Association, John Bryan, said the proposals “still represent unacceptable cuts for thousands of Irish farmers”.

Bryan said the outcome of today’s meeting “sends a strong message to Commissioner Ciolos demanding flexibility, with some member states insisting they are not prepared to accept the imposition of flat-rate payments, which would be very damaging to production in every part of Ireland”.

Coveney said the council also had a “very productive exchange of views” on the issue of the mislabelling of meat products. He said they agreed that the EU-wide nature of the problem required an EU-wide response, and stressed that recent efforts to deal with the controversy would continue.

Related: Coveney to “force the pace” on agriculture policies in EU>
More: Decisions on CAP will be critical for future of farmers – IFA President>

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5 Comments
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    Mute Lean Onme
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    Feb 25th 2013, 11:29 PM

    A sure dont they deserve the money. If they were to get the same wages as public sector they would be doing well, esp the past wages. The amount of allowances they could claim would be lots. Woking 24/7, always on call, nite allowance, double time on sunday, danger allowance, smell allowance (they use to get that in the dep of ag). Sure if they got all of those allowance they would be no need for cap. And seeing as a farmer is providing the very thing individuals need for life i.e food, one could they are saving lives on a minute by minute basis.

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    Mute Paul Lanigan
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    Feb 25th 2013, 8:35 PM

    Money for nothing

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    Mute Tara o brien
    Favourite Tara o brien
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    Feb 25th 2013, 11:03 PM

    Judging by the vast amount of comments on this subject it’s obvious that farmers don’t have the time to leave comments here. Probably due to fact that their working 24/7 at moment. Ie it’s caving and lambing season for those of you who don’t know. Proud farmers daughter! Fool!

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    Mute Theresia Linsbod
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    Feb 26th 2013, 1:26 AM

    Very interesting to know how IFA President John Bryan can be so certain that a flat rate payment would effect production. Is it not resonable to assume that if these farmers are so porductive then why can they not operate of a level playing field with everyone else. I think what John Bryan is really about is portecting the very high payments that some IFA leaders are getting.
    Theresia Linsbod

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    Mute Martin Heffernan
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    Feb 26th 2013, 1:06 AM

    Fine Gaels slump in the recent polls can be attributed to Covney’s stance of artificially sponsoring large farmers at the expense of smaller ones. Here we go again Fine Gael for the big farmer and FF for the small holder. Eamon O Civi has won this battle hands down.

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