Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the last couple of hours the European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, Mr. Günther Oettinger, has announced the multi-annual framework for the EU budget from 2020 to 2027, which includes a proposed 5% cut to CAP over that seven-year period. If that 5% that has been proposed by the European Commission is add to an average of 3% inflation over those seven years, that could amount to a cut to CAP of 26% by the year 2027. That is what farmers could be facing, and considering that many sheep and beef farmers in this country depend exclusively on CAP payments for their net income, such a situation cannot be tolerated.

Following on from this morning's announcement, I ask the Taoiseach to set out his plans for working with other European leaders to ensure the budget is not cut and the incomes of farm families are protected over the coming years.

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