FF outline policies for a fairer Pillar 2 and CAP package

THE time is still available to put in place a ‘far more equitable’ Common Agriultural Policy (CAP) with a 50/50 co-funding arrangement for the Pillar 2 payments, Fianna Fáil have outlined in a policy paper published over the last few days.

Fianna Fáil’s Agriculture Spokesman, Éamon Ó Cuív, said that the policy paper was aimed at protecting and developing the family farm structure of agriculture in Ireland, ‘giving a fair return to all farms irrespective of size or type of land farmed’.

Deputy Ó Cuív has proposed the transfer of €300m of Pillar 2 funds to Pillar 1 (essentially the Single Payment) to all farmers from 2015 on, meaning that there would be no reduction in funding for Pillar 1.

He has also called for the implementation of the EU agreement in relation to farmers with less than average payments – this would increase the payment to all farmers with less than the average payment at present.

“To fund this (€70m), reduce all payments from the top down rather than as proposed by taking a percentage of all farmers with over-average payments and impose in 2015, a ceiling of €150,000 on all Pillar 1 payments, payable to one farm enterprise,” Deputy Ó Cuív said.

He added that the 50/50 funding – as compared to the ‘Government’s 42% at present’ – would facilitate the transfer of €300m to Pillar 1 in 2015.

This level of funding, stated Deputy Ó Cuív, would allow a total of €234m per annum for the DAS payments, as compared to the €195m proposed, facilitating a 20% increase in payments.

Other proposed changes in the Pillar 2 scheme, as proposed in the Fianna Fail policy paper include:

• A maximum payment of €10,000 under the GLAS environmental scheme.

• No farmer in receipt of payments over €50,000 to be eligible for GLAS.

• Farm modernisation funding to be increased from €155m to €290m.

• Leader funding to be maintained at present levels with no cuts as proposed.

• A major effort to be launched to minimise red tape and compliance costs.

• A suitable range of measures to be put in place to encourage organic farming.

The policy paper also points out that the vast majority of Irish farms – 78% – are less than 50 hectares (125 acres) in sizes.

Fianna Fáil are also proposing that the greening payment should be a flat one to all farmers ‘to reflect the equal work done to fulfil the criteria’ and not as the Minister has proposed – a payment linked to grant payments of 13 years ago.