Ireland must use opportunity of EU presidency to get best possible Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) deal for farmers and rural communities, Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny said.

The party's spokesperson on agriculture and food made the comments as World Rural Development Day takes place today (Monday, July 6).

"It is important that we have a day each year to recognise the importance of rural communities, the vital contributions they make to food security, environmental stewardship of the land, regional development for businesses and the value of tourism to our economy.

"Over the last few decades, we have seen a lack of investment from government and policies that are detrimental to development of rural Ireland," he said.

Deputy Kenny said this has "resulted in local schools closing, the local post office closing, the garda station closing, local GAA club not having enough players to field a team".

CAP

The Sligo–Leitrim TD said that "agriculture is one of the main occupations in rural Ireland with most farms needing an off-farm income to survive".

"As Ireland has the EU presidency now, it is important that we focus on getting the best possible deal on CAP for our farmers and for rural communities.

"We need to reverse the decline in population in rural communities, and this requires investment from the government and change in policy towards rural Ireland.

"There is huge potential for developing business and tourism opportunities in rural areas and it needs to be encouraged.

"The focus should not be on having everything in our urban centres and on the eastern seaboard. We need to see more investment and development of infrastructure right across the country," he said.

CAP

Ireland is holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a crucial time.

The EU is currently in the process of negotiating its long-term budget for 2028 to 2034, known as the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF).

As part of that, discussions are intensifying around the budget and format of the next CAP.

Ireland will be expected to play the role of 'honest broker' in those negotiations involving the members states, the European Parliament, and the European Commission.

However, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, who will chair meetings of EU agriculture ministers during Ireland's presidency, has indicated that boosting the proposed seven-year CAP budget is one of Ireland's aims.

"Working with the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach and beyond on the MFF, we'll be looking to get the allocation for CAP up.

"And not just the allocation, but our ability to access it and the conditionality that comes with it," he said.