'Big battle ahead' on EU supports for farming, IFA warns
Speaking from Brussels, IFA president Francie Gorman said what was emerging about how farming will be funded from 2027 was "very concerning".
'While we will have to examine the specifics in more detail, it is clear that the EU Commission is downgrading the importance of the Cap and food production to allow for greater spending elsewhere,' he said.
'The Cap is being turned into an environmental and social policy. Support for farmers who are producing the most food is being consistently reduced. The commission seem more interested in finding ways to cut payments to individual farmers rather than support them,' he said.
"As it stands, the Cap provides an annual injection of nearly €2bn into our rural economy to support food production.
'At a time when Ireland is a net contributor to the overall EU budget, this level of investment in every parish takes on even more significance. Cap has been the cornerstone of the multi-billion export sector that underpins thousands of jobs in regions far from the urban centres,' he said.
The EU Commission also needs to be honest with consumers. Cutting Cap funding will reduce food production and lead to food price inflation.
'These proposals will have to be approved by the member states and the EU Parliament, so there is a long journey ahead and we will expect a real fight from our Government and MEPs.
'The EU presidency, which Ireland will assume this time next year for the second half of 2026, takes on added importance. Our Government has to secure the maximum funding for Irish farmers to encourage the next generation to consider farming as a career.
"From the Taoiseach down, this has to be front and centre of every discussion across those six months,' he said.
Commenting, agriculture minister Martin Heydon said: 'These are complex legislative proposals which will need detailed consideration. The commission is proposing major changes in structure that we will now study in detail in order to better understand the impact on Ireland.
'This publication is just the beginning of a protracted process. Member states will, through the Council of Ministers, begin the process of agreeing a general approach to the commission's proposals, before engaging in line-by-line negotiations with the EU Parliament and the EU Commission.
"This will take some time, and I fully expect the progression of these proposals to be a significant feature of Ireland's presidency of the EU Council in the second half of next year.'
The minister will host the first meeting of Ireland's Cap consultative committee on Thursday, which will engage in detail on these proposals.
Read More
Agricultural output price index up 20.7% in the 12 months to May
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
27 minutes ago
- Sunday World
US ambassador blasts Irish government and tells country to ‘sober up'
Mike Huckabee feels that Ireland is committing an act of 'diplomatic intoxication' over the Occupied Territories Bill. Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, said Ireland needed to 'sober up' when it comes to Occupied Territories Bill. Photo: Reuters US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has called on Ireland to 'sober up' over legislation which would ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The senior Trump administration figure also claimed that the Irish government 'fell into a vat of Guinness' when drafting the proposed legislation. The bill comes after the International Court of Justice last year declared that countries should "take steps to prevent trade or investment relations" over illegal Israeli settlements. Writing on X, the former Governor of Arkansas said: 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness and propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to act of diplomatic intoxication? Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, said Ireland needed to 'sober up' when it comes to Occupied Territories Bill. Photo: Reuters Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th "It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. "Sober up Ireland! Call [the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs] and say you're sorry!' Huckabee, a long-time supporter of Israel, was chosen by US President Donald Trump for his current position last November before being sworn in following senate approval in April. The comments came following a spiky exchanges between delegates from the Ireland Israel Alliance and the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade earlier this week. The committee heard former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter liken the bill to legislation passed in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Photo: Collins Speaking on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin rejected the claims made by the American diplomat. 'The situation is very serious in Gaza including an appalling loss of human life. Terrible war crimes are being committed. 'Ireland has consistently condemned Hamas and we equally condemn Israeli breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza. 'The slaughter of children must stop. The slaughter of innocent civilians queuing for food must stop. What is going on is beyond any moral compass. 'Ireland stands for peace and a political pathway forward.' The proposed bill is set to go before the Dáil in the autumn. In May, the cabinet gave the green light for the government to progress a version of the proposed legislation. UNICEF stated this week that more than 17,000 children have reportedly been killed and a further 33,000 wounded in the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza. As of July 9, the Gaza Health Ministry stated that approximately 60,200 people have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023.
Irish Post
an hour ago
- Irish Post
Government backs plan to boost Ireland's AI capacity by linking with EU superhub
THE Irish Government has backed plans to boost the nation's artificial intelligence capacity by linking to EU-based resources. A new proposal is being formulated to support Ireland hosting an AI Factory Antenna, which would link the nation with greater resources available elsewhere in the EU. Ireland's Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless confirmed the Government's support for the initiative, which will link Ireland directly to the French 'AI2F' Factory – a leading AI hub. Minister James Lawless 'The Irish centre would provide access to computing infrastructure, technical support, and training to help Irish innovators develop, test, and scale AI models and applications,' Mr Lawless' department confirmed. The move would give researchers, businesses, and public sector organisations in Ireland access to world-class AI computing power and expertise they claim. 'This is about ensuring Irish startups, SMEs, researchers and the public sector can fully participate in the next generation of AI innovation,' Minister Lawless said. 'By connecting to the French AI Factory, we will unlock cutting-edge tools and computing power for use here at home, with a focus on sectors where AI can make a real difference like health, energy and advanced materials.' He explained: 'This initiative will enhance Irish uptake of AI, enabling AI scaling and optimisation, in a way that is inclusive and affordable. 'It aligns closely with the 'AI Continent Action Plan', launched in April 2025, which sets out plans to establish the EU as a global AI leader. 'It is also fully in line with key Irish strategies such as the National Digital Strategy and the 'National AI Strategy' which Government recently agreed to update during 2025, signalling Ireland's ambition to remain a global AI and digital leader. 'We want Irish innovators to be AI creators and not simply users. I am also strongly committed to strengthening Ireland's High Performance Computing Infrastructure which is strategic investment in Ireland's digital future.' See More: AI Factory Antenna, Artificial Intelligence, Ireland
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Aer Lingus announces new routes from Cork to Prague and Geneva
Aer Lingus has announced new services from Cork to Prague and from Cork to Geneva will take off as part of the airline's winter schedule. One-way fares to Prague and Geneva are available from €49.99. The airline will fly twice-weekly from Cork to the Czech capital Prague operating on Thursday and Sunday from October 23 through March 26, 2026. Prague is renowned as a popular weekend and city break destination. Meanwhile the Irish carrier will fly weekly from Cork to Geneva this winter with the service operating on Saturdays from December 20, through to March 28, 2026. The Swiss city is next to Lake Geneva and is also a gateway to top European ski resorts including Chamonix, Verbier and Zermatt. Aer Lingus duty manager, John Clancy; customer service agent Robert O'Meara; Cork Airport general manager of operations, safety and facilities Dorothy Coffey; Aer Lingus Cork operations manager Vincent Healy; Aer Lingus customer service agent Cliona O'Leary, and Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy at the announcement of the airlines new services to Prague and Geneva. Picture: David Creedon 'We're thrilled to see the addition of Prague and Geneva to the Cork Airport network, served by Aer Lingus this winter. Both are attractive destinations and will increase the breadth of choice for passengers from across the south of Ireland,' said Cork Airport head of aviation business development and communications Tara Finn. Meanwhile Aer Lingus will also increase the frequency of its winter route to Lyon in France to a twice-weekly service. The Lyon service reconvenes in December and will operate until March 28, 2026, operating from Cork on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Aer Lingus chief customer officer Susanne Carberry said the new and extended winter routes from Cork will allow the airline to access customers seeking winter escape destinations in the Munster region. "Winter breaks or 'coolcations' are growing in popularity among Irish consumers, and we're delighted to respond to this trend by offering greater choice and convenience for seasonal travel across the continent this year," Ms Carberry said. Aer Lingus operates over 100 routes from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock to Europe, the UK and North America. Aer Lingus will continue to fly to winter sun destinations of Malaga, Tenerife and Lanzarote, a ski service to Munich, and its four-times daily service to London Heathrow, along with Aer Lingus regional services to Bristol and Glasgow, operated by Emerald Airlines.
