IFA President Tom Parlon, Call on Irish government to mount a "diplomatic offensive"
The week-long meeting of EU Farm Ministers in Brussels broke up at around 3am this morning, after a proposed settlement was rejected. The meeting dealt with planned price cuts for cereals, beef and dairy farmers. This morning a number of member states said the proposal was too expensive and would have to be pared back. Ireland is also under pressure in the structural and cohesion fund discussions. The reforms are felt to be essential ahead of the EU's planned expansion.
The intensive round of negotiations between EU Farm Ministers had been going on since Monday. Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh said afterwards that some progress had been made. However, the IFA has said Ireland is not doing well. The Irish Farmers' Association President Tom Parlon today called on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture to mount a diplomatic offensive over the next few days to improve the package on offer for Ireland at the farm talks in Brussels. Mr Parlon's call followed the break up of talks without agreement. Speaking to RTE today, Tom Parlon said that Irish farmers stand to lose up to £200 million. The 15 EU Agriculture Ministers will resume negotiations next Tuesday.
