Minister Martin Heydon has been challenged on how he plans to deliver for Irish farmers if a proposed 24% cut to Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding goes ahead?

The Independent Ireland TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to explain what the scenario might be if Ireland's overall CAP funding package is reduced.

During a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food yesterday evening (Wednesday, November 11) Deputy Fitzmaurice said "honestly needs to come out" in relation to future CAP funding.

Based on current proposals Ireland would receive €11.4 billion under the general allocation for the new National and Regional Partnership Fund (NRPP).

Ireland’s proposed CAP allocation would then be €8.16 billion which technically equates to a 20% to 24% cut compared with the €10.7 billion Ireland received from 2021 to 2027.

"How can you basically give out the sweets when you have 24% less money?" Deputy Fitzmaurice challenged Minister Heydon at the committee yesterday.

Minister Heydon acknowledged that "every ambition" in relation to CAP funding would "be greatly impacted" by 24% less money than there had been last time around in CAP.

However the minister said Ireland is working very hard not to be in that position.

Minister Heydon told the committee that CAP is fundamental to farm incomes in Ireland.

He added: "Approximately 75% of Ireland’s total EU funding receipts come from the CAP, highlighting its importance not just to the farming sector and rural economy, but to the country as a whole".

But he also warned that the proposals published by the European Commission for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, and for the post-2027 CAP "represent a significant change to the structure, funding and delivery of the CAP".

Minister Heydon stressed to the committee that during Ireland’sPresidency of the Council of the European Union "we're doing everything we can to make sure that we have an adequately funded CAP".

He said the fact the Irish Presidency secured "unanimous support" for a Partial General Approach on the CAP regulation represented a "significant milestone".

"This is not the final agreement on the future CAP - it provides a council mandate for the next stage of negotiations, which will involve trilogues with the European Parliament and the European Commission.

"In addition, a number of important financial and horizontal issues remain to be decided as part of the wider negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework," Minister Heydon told the committee.