It’s feared that it’s small and part-time farmers who would suffer most if proposed cuts to CAP become a reality.
It’s after the EU announced the budget for the Common Agricultural Policy is to be slashed by 5 percent.
The European Commission has cited Brexit for the reasoning behind a move which would see the CAP budget cut by 5 percent.
The proposed new Common Agricultural Policy will have a budget of €365bn and continue to be built around two pillars: direct payments to farmers and rural development funding.
But it has led to deep concern about the impact on Irish farmers, particularly on smaller farmers.
The Clare County Chair of the IFA, Willie Hanrahan, says many of these farmers are already struggling and is concerned about the impact of this, and also Brexit.
The matter has been raised in the Dáil in the past few days.
There, Clare’s Independent TD Dr Michael Harty called for this to be a key priority for Irish politicians to bring to the European table.
In response to Dr Harty’s comments, Tánaiste Simon Coveney – himself a former Minister for Agriculture – insisted it’s not all bad news and that work will continue to ensure Irish farmers are looked after.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has already begun talks with his counterparts across the EU to ease the impact on farmers, but admits he is disappointed with the proposals from Brussels.
