Rose Conway-Walsh challenges minister over CAP cuts and Mayo funds
Rose Conway-Walsh spoke in a parliamentary debate on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget, criticising cuts and urging no reductions. She demanded full convergence and front loading to deliver an extra 11 million into County Mayo and said rising inflation and scheme shortfalls were not being factored in.
Budget and CAP funding
She told the minister that over the past 10 years there has been a 20% drop in income to Irish farmers from CAP and that the current programme is only marginally up. She warned that any reduction in the next CAP is unacceptable and cited a claim that Ireland would contribute an extra one billion a year to the EU while receiving 80 to 100 million less in CAP.
Impact of inflation and schemes
She raised inflation as a critical omission from calculations, noting farmers face higher costs for manure, diesel, services and insurance. She said agri-environment schemes had a glossy presentation but delivered much less income on the ground, especially in the west.
Convergence and front loading for Mayo
She asked why the government is opposing full convergence and front loading that she said would bring an extra 11 million into County Mayo. She argued Mayo is among the counties that would benefit most from equalising basic farm payments and called for accurate figures in consultations with farmers.
Minister's response and consultation
The minister responded that the overall CAP budget is marginally up and that the government fought to avoid a cut, noting long-term downward pressure at EU level. The minister highlighted an 11% year-on-year increase in the national budget and said a position on convergence will be decided after consultation with farmers, refusing to let Europe alone dictate the pace of change.
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Of course the overarching issue is the budget. We have to look at this against a backdrop where in the past 10 years there has been a 20% drop in the income coming to Irish farmers from CAP. It is crucial that a line be drawn under the matter and those reductions be stopped. I do not believe any reduction in the next CAP will be acceptable. They are your own words, Minister, in 2018, but you have failed to deliver. And I really think listening today and farmers from Mayo listening to what you are saying in terms of saying that we have got a slight increase, one of the most pertinent issues in global economics right now is inflation. Inflation. And we have not figured that in here. And farmers know all about inflation in terms of the cost of manure, diesel, services, insurance and everything else that they need to put into, particularly in the agri-environment schemes that have been offered. You mentioned gloss, yeah. But the actual bottom line from what farmers earned from gloss, particularly in the west of Ireland, was absolutely nothing like the scheme that was promised to them in the first place. And when we look in terms of calculating the overall figures, as was said by my colleague, Matt Carthy, one billion a year extra to the EU, that is what we will be contributing while we are getting 80 to 100 million less in CAP. I really think that if we are going to deal with this, you cannot go out and consult with farmers and give them figures that are wrong. You really need to get your figures right, Minister, in this regard. And I want you to explain, Minister, to farmers and Mayo why you are fighting against full convergence and front loading that would bring an extra 11 million into the county. Farmers and Mayo really want to know that. And that's my main question to you today. Mayo is one of the counties that would benefit the most from bringing in equal levels of basic farm payments. So instead of the government fighting and part blocking the minority in Europe, you need to really look at what's happening in the ground. And I think farmers would be very displeased to hear you to say it again, you're going. They have been loud and clear. You just haven't been listening to the Minister. Arlene Tolley. Thank you very much to Deputy Conway Walsh. So first of all, the budget is marginally up, only marginally up on the previous seven-year programme, Deputy Conway Walsh. And it's something that this government fought for in relation to ensuring that there wouldn't actually be a cut to it. I would wish it would be far more. We fought to get it as high as it possibly could. There has been, unfortunately, a lot of downward pressure at EU level on the percentage of the overall EU budget that goes towards CAP over the last number of years and, indeed, decades before. It will be my objective, and it has been my objective as Minister, to do all I can in terms of supporting farm incomes. That's why, in terms of our own national budget this year, working with my colleague, Minister Michael McGrath, we've delivered an 11% increase in the budget year-on-year at national level. Sorry, Minister. There's just one more speaker. There has been pressure on it, undoubtedly, at European level. But your other point, then, in relation to fighting against convergence. Again, Deputy Conway, that's not the case. This is an issue and a discussion we have to have over the summer in terms of our own national CAP plan. What you were saying, and what Deputy Carthy is saying, is that Europe should dictate what we do in relation to this. And that I, as Minister, should go over to Europe and seal a deal over there, regardless of consulting with farmers. My clear commitment, and I have not taken a position in the version yet, because I will be consulting with farmers in relation to it, because it has significant implications for everyone. And not allowing Europe to dictate the pace in relation to this.
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