Government must push for a European Council of Ministers proposal on management of peat soils to be withdrawn, according to independent TD Thomas Pringle.
The Donegal TD warned that the EU proposal “could have a serious impact on many farmers’ eligibility for CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] payments”.
Deputy Pringle is supporting the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) call on Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue to have the proposal withdrawn.
Commenting, the independent TD said: “The INHFA said the proposal will mean that farmers would be required to carry out actions on these peat soils that would make farming activity impossible.
“If that’s the case, the lands affected would be ineligible for CAP payments.
“This proposal would have a serious impact on farmers in Donegal and other parts of the country,” deputy Pringle said, noting INHFA concerns that 50,000 farmers could be affected by the proposal.
The deputy said he has “long supported” flattening the Basic Payment Scheme in CAP and has been working with Luke “Ming” Flanagan, MEP, on this issue.
They said flattening the payment, along with increased payments under Agri Environment Schemes, will support 7,000 smaller farmers in Donegal by bringing an additional €17 million annually in extra payments to the county.
On this, deputy Pringle said: “Most farmers in Donegal are small farmers, largely on marginal land and hill farms.
“The proposal on management of peat soils will be another blow to small farmers in Ireland and must be withdrawn,” he concluded.