21/09/2015

Agriculture Commissioner Criticised For 'Missed Opportunity'

Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has been accused of wasting am opportunity "to show farmers across Europe that you understood the crisis many of them are facing".

Making the accusation, Sinn Féin MEP for Midland's North West, Matt Carthy, said: "It was an opportunity to show that this commission was capable of proposing measures that would make a real difference to farmers, not just during this period, but measures that could actually tackle the huge price volatility that is fast becoming the hallmark of European agriculture.

"However Commissioner, this package represents an opportunity wasted.

"A once off aid package that represents, for instance, €13.7million for Ireland – advance payments of monies that farmers were already entitled to – Limited state aid measures.

"None of this represents the radical action that was required to not just resolve this crisis but to provide the certainty that is necessary for farmers to manage their finances into the future.

"I fear that in the coming years we will return to this place, we will witness one crisis after another in one sector after another. I also fear many will be questioning their future in farming unless an urgent re-think is forthcoming by you and the commission."

(MH/JP)

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