AGRICULTURE WILL not be exempt from the savings required in the forthcoming budget, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney told farmers yesterday.
He delivered what he called “a reality check” to members of the Irish Farmers’ Association which lobbied members of the Oireachtas on its pre-budget submission in the Mansion House.
The first sitting agriculture minister to attend an IFA pre-budget lobby, Mr Coveney did not pull his punches when speaking to farmers from his own constituency in the rotunda of the Mansion House.
“The idea that because agriculture is performing very well at the moment that it is going to be exempt from any of the cutbacks just is not realistic,” he said.
“I would rather be upfront and truthful to the people about that early on and then negotiate and talk and take advice from the IFA and others as to what areas can take some level of cutback and still allow farming to keep the kind of optimism and positivity it has at the moment,” he said.
“We will have two tough budgets, the first one will be tougher than the second and I am being asked to make considerable savings by the Department of Finance.
“Obviously we are going to argue that point up until budget day and try to maximise the agricultural budget, but there will be some savings,” he said.
“My job along with the farming organisations like the IFA is to try to make the necessary savings but at the same time keep growth and expansion in the agri-food sector, predominantly in farming.
“That is the political challenge for me. That is my job but I will be fighting hard for farmers at the Cabinet table. I am doing it already since the expenditure review started back in May.”
The Minister was an unexpected visitor to the annual event which saw nearly 100 TDs and Senators come to listen to the farm organisation members who sat at tables bearing the names of the various constituencies..
Those who came to be lobbied included the Opposition leader, Micheál Martin, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Shane McEntee and former agriculture minister, Brendan Smith.
They heard a strong message from the IFA president John Bryan that continued investment in agriculture was vital to deliver economic growth, increased exports and jobs.
“Farmers have taken very significant cuts in previous budgets,” he said.
“ They expect Minister Coveney to defend their sector and prevent any further cuts in farm schemes, which would have a damaging effect on primary agriculture, undermining production and the overall growth potential of the agri-food sector,” he said.
The key proposals in the IFA pre-budget submission were the reopening of the Agricultural Environmental Options Scheme for all farmers leaving the Reps3 scheme, retention of funding at current levels and no property tax on farmland.
It is also seeking funding for investment schemes, maintenance of forestry premium and no increase in farmer levies or cuts in disease eradication schemes and no additional carbon tax on farm diesel.