Fianna Fáil MEPs encourage all stakeholders in Irish agriculture to contribute to the EU public consultation process on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy

Liam Aylward MEP, Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP and Brian Crowley MEP today submitted a response to the questions put forward by the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The Fianna Fáil MEPs strongly encourage all stakeholders in both Irish agriculture and in the food sector to contribute to this very important consultation process on the future of the CAP in advance of next week's deadline.

The joint submission of the Fianna Fáil MEPs highlights many key issues such as the importance of maintaining a well financed CAP, the centrality of the CAP to the Irish economy, quality standards, food security and the environmental aspects of the future policy.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP stated that "In total, annual EU and national payments to farmers amount to €2.6 billion, the importance of the CAP in supporting farm incomes and job creation in rural Ireland is considerable."

Liam Aylward MEP, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture stated "It is essential that the EU maintains a strong and properly resourced agriculture policy with a strong budget that will deliver for active farmers, rural communities and Irish society".

Brian Crowley MEP "There is no doubt that the new policy should be structured so as to support innovation, agri-entrepreneurship and agri-business and to enable the potential of European agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change"

ENDS