Kilkenny MEP for Ireland East Liam Aylward has criticised the Government for cuts which he says will affect the most vulnerable farmers living in disadvantaged areas.
The REPS scheme is to be cut by €19 million and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will have its funding reduced by €30 million in 2012.
Mr Aylward, who is a member of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, said the cuts would send a message to the EU that schemes such as REPS and Disadvantaged Areas are expendable and Irish farmers can do without such supports.
“Given that the future of the agriculture budget is being locked in with ‘greening’ measures and funding is being made conditional at farm level, based on environmental and ‘greening’ activity, it is contradictory and short sighted of the Government to cut funding on the very schemes that assist Irish farmers in being among the most environmentally friendly and sustainable in Europe,” he said.
The Kilkenny MEP said that the domestic cuts came at a time when Ireland is fighting in Europe for an agricultural budget that will deliver on food security and will give farmers a fair and just return for their work.
“If we can't fully support these schemes, our defence of the ‘green’ nature of Irish agriculture and arguments for flexibility for Irish farmers based on their environmental track record will be weakened and hollow at the EU level,” he said.
“The Government have taken an ill-judged decision in cutting the funding that supports Ireland's most vulnerable farmers and have weakened our hand in CAP negotiations on the Rural Development budget and flexibility on ‘greening’ measures for Irish farmers.”
Fellow Kilkenny man, Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan, however, has argued that last week’s Budget is good for Irish agriculture.
“By reducing the stamp duty on agricultural land from six per cent to two per cent, the Minister is attempting to stimulate a stagnant agricultural land market. A half rate of one per cent which will be available on transfers to close relatives until the end of 2014 will encourage the transfer of farms to the next generation and improve the age profile of Irish farmers,” he said.
“Ireland is world leader when it comes to food production and the Government recognises the value of growing this sector and supporting efficient and progressive primary producers. The measures contained in this Budget will enable the agri-food sector to continue to play its part in Ireland’s future success and in ensuring that our small country is restored to greatness once again.”
