Minister Tells IFA AGM Next CAP Won’t Fund NRL or Deny Payments on Age Grounds
The Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine Martin Heydon gave delegates at this week’s IFA AGM strong assurances around CAP post-2027, his priorities and the upcoming negotiations.
He confirmed and reiterated that obligations under the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) must not be funded through CAP, directly or indirectly, and that any funding for the NRL must be ‘new’ money.
He also said increasing the CAP budget for farmers is amongst his key priorities.
Minister Heydon also confirmed that his Department is not in favour of the current Commission proposal that would exclude those in receipt of a pension from key CAP supports. He said he would be working towards removing this now mandatory proposal entirely.
IFA Rural Development Chair John Curran said the Minister was very much aligned with IFA’s position on these key issues.
“The Minister will have a key role to play in the design of the next CAP programme as Ireland assumes the EU Presidency in the second half of 2026.
“He must use every contact and resource at his disposal to deliver a strong and positive CAP for Irish farmers,” he said.
“Two series of Commission amendments even before the trilogue negotiations begin show just how offside the original Commission proposals were, but the Minister’s assurances will certainly be well received by farmers and must now be followed through on,” he said.
