D’Arcy welcomes CAP agreement at Council of Ministers

Speaking following the draft agreement that was reached at EU level last night on CAP reform, Fine Gael Louth Senator, Jim Darcy said: ‘The agreement at the Council of Ministers in relation to CAP is to be greatly welcomed’.

“I would particularly welcome the Council’s agreement to the principle of flexibility in the way in which direct payments are distributed in Member States. This is good news for Louth farmers, in that most are intensive farmers with high productivity levels.

“It will mean that, while redistribution will be significant, it will not be anywhere near the Commission’s original proposal of a single flat payment per hectare, which would have been disastrous for the productive farmer, large or small. In addition, there is movement towards the application of the greening payment as a percentage of an individual farmer’s payment rather than as a flat rate.

“Minister Coveney has done an excellent job in presiding over negotiations and I wish him the best of luck in concluding proceedings. I will continue to press the Minister for a new Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, which he has committed to giving consideration to. I will continue to raise the matter with him in the interest of farmers form Louth and beyond.”

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