Hill rules on GLAS not driven by Brussels
A MASSIVE turnout of over 1,000 farmers at Maam Cross last week has given a clear mandate to the leadership of the hill/commonage pressure group to redouble their efforts for changes to be made in the proposed arrangements, it was claimed this week.
Brendan Joyce, who chaired last Thursday night’s meeting in Peacocke’s Hotel, told the Farming Tribune, it was now becoming clear that restrictions being imposed on the hill farmers were not being driven by Brussels, but by the national Government.
“We are quite satisifed that MEP Marian Harkin has established that requirements being sought by our own Government from hill/commonage farmers are not being sought by Brussels,” said Brendan Joyce.
He said that there would be no problem whatsoever at EU level with the Department taking ownership of the overall commonage plan, that should be a reference document rather than a joint application.
“What we have been presented with does not offer the flexibility that’s needed by hill sheep farmers. The Agricultural Consultants Association have also made it clear that the Department need to take ownership of the plan,” said Brendan Joyce.
He said that the turnout at last week’s meeting in Maam Cross was a reflection of the depth of feeling that existed among hill and commonage farmers across the country.
“We had farmers at last Thursday night’s meeting from Donegal, Sligo, Dingle and Waterford. There’s a short window now for the Minister to make the necessary changes, before the plan goes back to Europe,” said Brendan Joyce.
Earlier this month, a delegation of Irish hill farmers met with senior officials of the EU Commission in Brussels on the hill/commonage issue. After the meeting, MEP Marian Harkin said that the flexibility was there for the Irish Minister for Agriculture to make the necessary changes.
“The Dept. of Agriculture is unnecessarily imposing conditions on the participation of hill and commonage farmers in the new EU supported GLAS Scheme.
“What has emerged clearly from the EU is that Ireland’s Dept. of Agriculture is attempting to impose regulations in an inflexible way which is not required by the European Commission,” said Marian Harkin.
She added that the result of this was that commonage farmers were the only producers in Ireland being denied the right to apply as individuals to participate in the new agricultural environment GLAS Scheme, Marian Harkin said.