Mullooly sets out seven essential CAP protections for Leitrim farmers

Ciaran Mullooly MEP has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to secure seven essential protections for Irish farmers in negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy for 2028–2034.

Ahead of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 26–27 October, the Midlands–North-West MEP outlined his concerns regarding the Presidency’s proposed approach in Council document 14484/26.

“The next CAP must protect family farms, recognise the realities of Irish farming and provide secure funding for agriculture and rural communities,” Mr Mullooly said.

“This document deals only with the mechanics of how the new CAP will operate. It does not address the budget shortfall or secure the two-pillar CAP structure, covering direct payments and rural development,” he added.

Mullooly identified seven essential priorities:

• Secure, separately protected CAP funding, covering both direct payments and rural development, without diverting money from other rural or cohesion programmes.

• Guaranteed eligibility for active dual-income farmers, ensuring off-farm employment does not disqualify farmers carrying out genuine agricultural activity.

• Removal of the option to exclude active farmers solely because they receive a retirement pension.

• Once-only environmental compliance, alongside timely payments and protection for farmers against payment losses caused by failures attributable to the competent authority.

• Guaranteed ANC support, restoring “shall” rather than “may”, alongside practical farm stewardship requirements recognising Irish grass-based farming, hill farms, commonage and environmentally sensitive land.

• Fair, evidence-based nitrate-related measures, with adequate support and no blanket requirement for individual farmers to reduce livestock numbers.

• A published Irish impact assessment of payment reductions and redistribution, including the combined effects of capping, degressivity and any overall budget reduction.

“For many Irish family farms, a dual income is essential to keeping the holding viable. Wording that says active farmers ‘may include’ part-time farmers does not provide the certainty these families need,” Mr Mullooly said.

“Likewise, farmers who continue actively farming should not lose support simply because they have reached retirement age and receive a pension. Generational renewal must be supported through attractive succession, partnership and installation measures,” he added.

He went on to state that more than 95,000 Irish farmers have benefitted from ANC payments.

“ANC payments recognise the permanent natural disadvantages facing farmers on mountain land and other constrained farmland. More than 95,000 Irish farmers have benefited from this essential support. Replacing ‘shall’ with ‘may’ weakens the European commitment to these farms. The Minister must insist that mandatory provision is restored, backed by adequate funding.

“Farmers also need a clear guarantee that they will not have to prove the same environmental compliance twice. Where a farmer has met their obligations and acted in good faith, administrative failures by the competent authority must not put their payments at risk,” he stated.

Mullooly called on the Minister to confirm Ireland’s position on these safeguards before negotiations advance.

“I recognise the importance of progressing negotiations. However, I would prefer sufficient time to secure a balanced and properly funded agreement rather than accept a timetable that leaves these fundamental protections unresolved.

“Irish farmers need certainty that the next CAP will support their livelihoods and the communities that depend on them,” he commented.