Following today’s announcement by the European Commission that an Agricultural Support Package of €540m will be distributed among the EU Member States, IFA President Francie Gorman has said it is essential that the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon implements the maximum 200% co-financing rate for Ireland’s allocation of the Reserve, which has been triggered by the Commission to help ease the current fertiliser crisis.
“At a time when farmers are facing sky rocketing input costs and falling output prices, it is absolutely imperative that the Minister delivers on the maximum 200% Member State co-financing permitted by the Commission,” Francie Gorman outlined.
“It is also vital that any scheme developed is available across all sectors and will deliver money to farmers efficiently, with the lowest level of administrative burden possible,” the IFA President continued.
“IFA remains steadfast in continuing to demand the suspension of CBAM on nitrogen fertiliser imports into the EU. To this end, the retention of a suspension mechanism for CBAM on fertiliser in the ECOFIN vote today is a positive development.”
“All Irish MEPs must now work hard to ensure the Parliament retains the suspension mechanism and it is not deleted from the regulation when it makes its way there,” Francie Gorman added.
“At a time of such rapid inflation of key farm inputs, it is beyond belief that CBAM remains in place and is adding significant costs to farmers which cannot be passed on elsewhere. The Irish Government must remain open to suspension of this levy and advance this position during the Irish Presidency of the Council,” he concluded.
