Republican News · Thursday 26 June 2003

Government must reject partial decoupling

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, Martin Ferris TD has called upon Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh to reject any compromise on the proposed reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy that is based on partial decoupling. Decoupling is the concept of breaking the link between aid and production.

The Kerry TD was speaking on the eve of Tuesday's crucial talks on the proposals made by EU Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler.

"We have been arguing for months that partial decoupling represents the very worst case scenario facing Irish farmers in the context of any reform of the CAP," said Ferris. "Irish farmers are now almost unanimous in sharing Sinn Féin's view on this issue and yet the Irish government appears to be willing to accept a Franco-German compromise based on some form of decoupling.

"It is our belief that this is not the best option available. We are calling on the minister and his team to reject partial decoupling. We want him to argue instead for the type of reform that will benefit the majority of Irish farmers and that has been indicated by studies carried out on behalf of the Department and by other researchers around the main components of the Fishcler proposals."