Connacht Tribune

New REPS is key to survival

Published

5 years ago

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Pictured is IFA President Tim Cullinan in Connemara with the 12 Pins in the background along with Gerry Gunning, Executive Secretary IFA Hill Committee; Pat Murphy, Connacht IFA Chairman; Caillin Conneely, Chairman Connemara IFA; Anne Mitchell, Chairperson Galway IFA; Flor McCarthy, National Chairman, IFA Hill Committee; Tim Cullinan; Eamon Nee, Galway IFA Hill Committee Chairman; Michael Biggins, IFA National Chairman Rural Development Committee; Martin Mannion, Connemara IFA and Rose Mary McDonagh, National Chairperson IFA Farm Business Committee.

A MEANINGFUL environmental scheme to replace GLAS – with the maximum payment doubling to €10,000 – is a main priority of the IFA, the Association’s President, Tim Cullinan told farmers on a visit to the West earlier this month

He said that such a scheme must recognise the contribution farmers make to protecting the environment and the provision of public good.

The IFA President said that further SAC designations were unacceptable and he called on the new Minister for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan to immediately clarify the position of the National Parks and Wildlife service.

“Farm incomes are under serious pressure and the value of direct payments are vital to the survival of farming in peripheral areas. Supports to farm income alongside production is what hill farmers need,” he said.

“It is only through a combination of cattle and sheep production, direct payments and a strong environmental scheme in the forthcoming CAP negotiations that this will be achieved.

“Hill sheep production is the main enterprise among the 30,000 farmers who farm and protect the environment in hill and mountain grazing areas,” said Tim Cullinan.

He also warned that the impact of a no-deal Brexit would be felt on all farms and particularly the most vulnerable ones such as in mountain and hill areas. The IFA were now seeking Government commitments on the following five issues:

■ A meaningful environmental scheme to replace GLAS with the maximum payment doubling to €10,000.

■ The new REPS scheme promised in the Programme for Government must be added to any CAP agri-environmental scheme and must reward farmers for sequestering carbon.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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