Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for Ireland to "stand its ground" in negotiations over the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

McDonald said that CAP cannot be cut, and she called for Ireland's "fair share" of EU farm funds to be protected.

She made the comments today (Wednesday, July 15) at an event organised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) in the Mansion House in Dublin, at which the farm organisation presented its priorities for Budget 2027 (to be announced later this year) to TDs and senators.

When asked by Agriland what key points were raised with her by IFA members, McDonald said: "Obviously they are anxious that the various sectors across agriculture get a fair hearing, and get fair resourcing for the upcoming budget.

"They will be aware that the government now is laying their plans, and that parties like Sinn Féin are equally preparing our own budgetary plans and our own submission," she added.

The Dublin Central TD said that the farmers in attendance will "have their eye on Europe as well".

"Ireland now holds the presidency of the Council [of the EU] and there is a real point being pressed here around the Multiannual [Financial] Framework, around the European budget, and the fact that there cannot be a cut to CAP, but also that Ireland has to stand its ground in terms of this country’s fair share of funding for agriculture," she said.

McDonald also said "there’s another really interesting conversation going on around sustainability, around the relationship between agriculture and issues around climate and environment", adding that this "has to be a really positive conversation".

She also highlighted the issue of farm succession and young entrants to farming.

"And then another conversation that’s happening is one around generational change and ensuring that young people have their fair chance to work in agriculture, to live in rural Ireland," the Sinn Féin leader said.

She added: "I know this is an issue. I’ve heard it now over the last number of years, whether it's at the ploughing match, or other agriculture shows, and I'm not surprised that it is being raised with us again today."

IFA budget submission

The IFA-organised event today was the first act of its campaign ahead of Budget 2027 to bring its demands to members of the Oireachtas across both government and opposition parties.

IFA president Francie Gorman said that the three main pillars of its Budget 2027 submission are: supports to mitigate the escalating costs of production; the retention of farm schemes; and the extension of key farmer tax reliefs.

“Within the schemes, we have identified ANC [Areas of Natural Constraint] as one that is a critical part of farm income. We also reinforced to the politicians who attended that linear cuts to any scheme will not be tolerated by farmers," Gorman said.

"We know over 500 new applications for the National Sheep Welfare Scheme have been received this year, and no doubt there will be new applications for the National Beef Welfare Scheme later in the Autumn too," he added.

"Additional funding to ensure full payment to all applicants for the Straw Incorporation Scheme (SIM) must be found, for a tillage sector that needs additional supports, not cuts. Farmers who apply to any farm scheme and comply with the terms and conditions should not find themselves out of pocket at a later date," the IFA president said.

The IFA is also calling for the government to maximise national co-financing under the EU's measures for tackling high fertiliser prices.

Other key asks from the IFA include: further consideration to measures to offset high input costs resulting from the Middle East crisis; an increased investment for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS); and a permanent solution for farmers impacted by the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) "once and for all".