Senator Byrne was speaking at a well-attended meeting of farmers in Rathowen, county Westmeath. The meeting was organised by Fianna Fáil to discuss the party’s alternative proposals on EU CAP reform. Senator Byrne chaired the meeting.  Other speakers included Eamon Ó Cuiv TD, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture, Robert Troy TD and Pat O’Rourke, former President of Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and currently Chairman of the Northern Ireland Livestock and Meat Commission.  Mr Donie Shine, from Mallow county Cork of the Farm Family Rights Association also spoke.
 
Senator Byrne said “I reject the idea that simply because Minister Coveney agreed a CAP reform package out to the year 2020 that we should all sit back and forget about farming at European level for the next six years.  There is far too much at stake for us to adopt that approach and I want to caution the Minister and his Coalition colleagues against that. Now more than ever, Irish farmers and the agri-food sector need strong and energetic representatives to fight their corner in the European Parliament”

“Indeed I am determined that changes be made to the current CAP proposal on offer from the Minister.  It is deeply unfair on the vast majority of farmers with the ramifications only becoming clear.  The implications of the proposed GLAS scheme to replace REPS are likely to horrify farmers.
 
“Tens of thousands of people – directly and indirectly – depend on the success and prosperity of farming. Farmers’ contribution to economic and social development does not stop at the farm gate. It extends to the people who process farm output, the people who market and sell it at home and abroad, as well as the hardware businesses, machinery vendors and contractors who supply goods and services to farmers. Farming is a vital engine of prosperity and development, and not just in rural areas. A whole network of towns and villages across Ireland are largely dependent on it for employment and spending power.                                                            
 
“If I am elected to the European Parliament, I will monitor and question every aspect of the rolling out of the CAP changes over the coming years on behalf of the farming community.  It is regrettable that Minister Coveney agreed to a reduction in Ireland’s share of the CAP funds and I will fight to ensure that does not happen again. It is also regrettable that the CAP changes does not focus enough on family farms and penalises some farmers already on low entitlements. Fianna Fáil wants to see a fairer CAP deal for farmers and that is what I will fight for in Europe along with my colleague Eamon O Cuiv TD.