IFA hits out as Dublin appears to backtrack over sheep payment

Published on Thursday 27 November 2008 21:03

SHEEP farmers in Scotland have for several weeks been casting envious glances towards the Emerald Isle following suggestions by the government in Dublin that it would support the industry with an annual payment of 30 (£24) on every one of the 2.8 million breeding ewes in the Republic of Ireland.

However, it now appears that there is some doubt that this will happen and that issue was raised yesterday by Henry Burns, the chairman of the Irish Farmers' Association sheep committee.

He said: " Agriculture minister Brendan Smith is clearly on the record as saying that he would support the country's 34,000 sheep farmers and immediately announced a 'sheep maintenance scheme' secured at last week's negotiations over the reforms of the common agricultural policy in Brussels.

"The Department of Agriculture and the minister now appear to playing politics with the outcome of the Brussels talks and the unused funds for the sheep sector."

Ireland has an envious reputation, certainly in the eyes of the UK, of being able to manipulate its share of CAP funding to the advantage of its farmers.

However, a spokeswoman for the Dublin government was clearly circumspect. She said: The minister planned to consult with the main stakeholders in the agricultural sector how the monies (from the budget under-spend] might be used.

"The question of aid for the sheep sector remains one for the minister."

Burns is clearly unhappy with that comment. He said: "Confidence and incomes in the sector are on the floor.

"The minister needs to immediately reaffirm the commitment he previously gave. We need an announcement very soon."

Farming organisations in Scotland had been pressing for an aid package for the sheep sector, which is in sharp decline.

However, they have been told that the 1 million under-spend on support for hill farmers is simply insufficient to be meaningful. The same now appears to be true in Ireland.