The Irish Farmers' Association has said it will "turn up the heat" on the Government to get a better deal for Ireland in the CAP reform negotiations over the next few weeks. The new reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy dominated Tom Parland's presidential address at the AGM. Mr Parland said that the last round of CAP reforms ended in grief for Irish farmers, with many sectors now in deep trouble. He said farmers are demanding full compensation for price cuts and that animal headage payments should be maintained. Despite the commitment of the Taoiseach to fight the EU proposals, the IFA said it would increase the heat under the government to ensure that Ireland gets a good deal.
The EU Farm Commissioner, Franz Fischler, also addressed the association's annual general meeting in Dublin this evening. This evening he said he has no magic wand to solve the current problems in Irish farming. However he said the situation is not hopeless and falls in farm income have been worse in Denmark and the UK. With regard to the new CAP reforms, the commissioner said he would be insisting on a 30% cut in beef prices to stimulate consumption. Mr Fischler said some of the Irish responses to the reforms would result only in short term solutions. He expressed disappointment at the result of special measures introduced to benefit the Irish beef sector, and asked if Irish farmers did not benefit, who did?
