The EU Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler, has ruled out a request by the Irish Farmers' Association for a six-year phase-out of livestock headage subsidies. Mr Fischler indicated that a three-year plan was the only possible compromise on offer in the changeover to a system based on land acreage. He pointed out that provision for the change was agreed last year by the 15 member governments, including Ireland.
Under the new system, 70,000 Irish farmers stand to gain more money each year, but more than 30,000 will suffer a drop in subsidies. On Morning Ireland, the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, said that he would be discussing the issue with Mr Fischler again next week.
In response to Mr Fischler's statement, the IFA President said that the Government must not allow the Commissioner to override the commitments to farm families in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. Tom Parlon said that the government faced a major challenge to resist the cuts in the proposed changes to disadvantaged area payments.
