Fianna Fáil has committed to “ensuring a fair price for farmers” if it gets into Government, after the party launched its 2020 General Election manifesto, today, Friday, January 24.

Fianna Fáil says that it “will deliver policies that will protect the 137,500 family farms across the country and secure a fair price for the primary producer”.

The manifesto also said that the party will “protect Ireland’s interest in the CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] negotiations… and develop new market opportunities”.

It also says that, under a Fianna Fáil Government, the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) scheme would “remain a permanent suckler support scheme” – and that the party would “work to ensure that processors and supermarkets pay proper prices for quality Irish beef”.

Moreover, Fianna Fáil said it would support the establishment of producer organisations for beef; seek EU protected geographical indication (PGI) status for Irish grass-fed beef, and continue to develop live exports.

On the dairy sector, the party said it would “continue adding value” to dairy products, while on the sheep sector, the party said it would support the Sheep Welfare Scheme.

For the tillage, organic and horticulture sectors, Fianna Fáil said it will “set ambitious targets” to bring new land into organic production, and to seek more funding for organic schemes in the next Rural Development Programme.

CAP

On CAP, Fianna Fáil outlined the following points:

As already publicly announced by the party, it has committed to establishing a national food ombudsman who would be tasked with capturing price and market data, and making regular reports regarding the food supply chain.

The manifesto also outlines a commitment to increasing the resources in Department of Agriculture in terms of opening access to foreign markets for Irish agri-food products.

On the Area of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, Fianna Fáil has pledged an additional €50 million above 2020 levels, and to enhance biodiversity management by restoring the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme.

Finally, in terms of forestry, Fianna Fáil says that it will work at EU level to get hedgerows recognised as a carbon sink, and that it will work to see that the next CAP prioritises and incentivises planting trees on farms.