CARLOW FINE Gael TD Pat Deering welcomed the EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture recently but also put a number of pertinent questions to him regarding CAP and other key issues.
“It is very encouraging to see commissioner Ciolos taking such a keen interest in Ireland’s agricultural and rural agenda, while actively engaging with Irish farmers and public representatives during his visit to Ireland,” said deputy Deering.
“I raised a number of matters with the commissioner, including the importance of re-establishing a sugar beet industry in Ireland, capping of payments and the effect of rented land prices for the next three years and what will happen afterwards.
“Regarding the future CAP post-2013, I welcome the commissioner’s commitment to engage in constructive negotiations with minister Coveney and the Irish government in seeking to achieve a workable and fair programme for Irish farmers. Minister Coveney reiterated that he would drive a hard bargain in the negotiations regarding the proposed reference year for farm payments in 2014,” said deputy Deering.