Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations: Discussion

Photo of Michael FitzmauriceMichael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We must devise a system whereby what I call the armchair farmer cannot be condoned going forward because a person has to be farming to be able to get payments. I said it earlier to the officials from the Department but I remember asking a question in the Dáil when Brexit was in full swing and the Tánaiste stated the Government would bring it up if there was a deficit. We must focus on that, in the line of getting more money, as Mr. Punch has talked about, into the pot. It was mentioned earlier but in fairness to any Minister, under CAP, as one of the organisations said, a minimum stock is needed. Under CAP, we cannot bring it in because of some world trade agreement or rules. It is true they have it in under the ANC but they cannot do that under CAP. Where there is land being leased and payments going with it and there is someone sitting down looking at the farmer busting himself or herself outside the door, that type of stuff must come to an end. I do not care whether the farmer is farming full time or part time, he or she must be looked after because if we do not do that, we will not continue to have farmers. As regards young farmers as well, we must help them and encourage them as much as possible going forward.

I will be very clear that my honest opinion is we must go down the road of convergence. We have to try to divide the money up as best as possible. Some people will be affected but we must bring in systems that will help them. The cap will be over €50,000, or €1,000 a week. We should do that and get the income of every farmer, especially on family farms, up to a viable level. Earlier on, a size of 35 ha was talked about. My understanding is that the average size is 32 ha and there are farmers who have missed out on moneys. People will not get paid for what they did 20 years ago. As a contractor, whatever baling farmers do, they will not get it this year unless they go out and fight for it. We must ensure we look after all farmers as best as is possible.

Those at the very top were mentioned. I know there are not many but looking at what has come out in the media about payments of €245,000 and €145,000 and all of that, it is inflating the whole situation. I know that is just ten pictures taken of ten different people. It is not going to make anyone at the bottom any richer but all that must be cut out because it is not portraying the system in a good manner.

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