INHFA seek baseline land designation payments in meeting with Tánaiste
THE Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has highlighted the impact of restrictions imposed through the Natura 2000 land designations to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
INHFA president Vincent Roddy told the Tánaiste how farmers operating on these lands are seeing their farming activity and income undermined.
This, he stated, is something that must be addressed with a baseline payment for the burden of these designations as an urgent requirement.
In addressing this, Mr. Roddy also highlighted how the Natura 2000 network, which comprises SAC and SPA designations, is delivering €2.8 billion each year to the Irish economy based on the EU Nature Fitness Check from 2017.
This, he said, works out at €3,000/ha but farmers are only able access €79/ha through GLAS.
He said: “This is a major issue that must be addressed before any further discussions on new designations as proposed in the EU Biodiversity Strategy.”
This was why they need the government to deliver the necessary budget to deliver a minimum payment per hectare of at least €150/ha/year.
In their meeting the INHFA also highlighted ongoing concerns around public access and the impact this is having on farmers, especially in relation to dog attacks on sheep and insurance concerns in the event of walkers getting injured.
Another issue highlighted was the role of women in Irish agriculture.
In addressing this, Connie Walsh outlined the vital role women play here. According to CSO figures, just 13,000 women are ‘officially’ farming and in receipt of farm payments in Ireland while 70,000 women work on farms every day.
She stated: “The policy supports in the upcoming CAP must be inclusive. The culture must change and women need to be recognised for their contribution. We need to see women involved at a senior level in all farming organisations.”
On the proposed CAP Plan, Mr. Roddy reminded the Tánaiste of the commitment he made in February 2018 to support the overall CAP budget. The commitment amounted to in excess of €500 million a year.
Said the INHFA leader: “It is vital that the government supports our suckler and sheep farmers through the Pillar 2 Programme.”
In welcoming the increased Pillar 2 budget of almost €200m/year, he informed the Tánaiste that the new budget will only bring us back to the Pillar 2 allocation for the 2007-13 CAP period. This, Mr. Roddy was anxious to point out, would not be acceptable in any other sector and should not be acceptable to farmers either.
The INHFA are, stated Roddy, 'calling for an additional €200m/year to support all sheep and suckler farmers and provide access to the new AECM for all farmers that are willing to engage and deliver for our environment'.