Farmers lock horns with Department on GLAS

Thousands of farmers from across the country are still waiting to be paid their GLAS and AEOS payments. Three farm organisations staged protests this week.

Peter Varley

1 February 2017

Farmers lock horns with Department on GLAS

The ICSA protesting over GLAS delays the Department of Agriculture at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford. \ Patrick Browne

Farmers protesting at the Department of Agriculture on Kildare Street. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

Members of The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) protesting at Davitt House, the Department's headquarters, in Castlebar, Co Mayo. \ Keith Heneghan/Phocus

After a wave of protests this week, thousands of farmers are still awaiting their GLAS and AEOS payments.Three protests took place by farming representatives around the country to voice frustration regarding the thousands of delayed payments for GLAS, AEOS and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). The outcome was not exactly what farmers would have hoped. The Department of Agriculture has given assurances that payment runs will be made on an ongoing basis.

After a wave of protests this week, thousands of farmers are still awaiting their GLAS and AEOS payments.

Three protests took place by farming representatives around the country to voice frustration regarding the thousands of delayed payments for GLAS, AEOS and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). The outcome was not exactly what farmers would have hoped. The Department of Agriculture has given assurances that payment runs will be made on an ongoing basis.

The farming organisations are calling for immediate first instalment payments without any further delays. DAFM’s argument for the delays is that all GLAS and AEOS applications must pass regulatory controls and validations as it claims is the case with all EU co-funded schemes. They say outstanding cases are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis to resolve the individual issues in each instance.

At the IFA protest in Dublin on Tuesday, IFA president Joe Healy called on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to pursue the issue with the European Commission to allow all farmers who are waiting on GLAS payments to be paid now with outstanding issues then sorted at a later date.

Listen to voices from the IFA protest in our podcast below:

Listen to "Farmers protest GLAS payment delays" on Spreaker.

On Monday the ICSA held a protest at the Department of Agriculture’s Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford. ICSA president Paddy Kent said: “Our patience with the Department has run out and it simply is not good enough to leave so many farmers high and dry over IT issues or minor technicalities with plans.”

Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association held a protest in Castlebar. Vincent Roddy said: “Enough is enough, farmers cannot wait any longer for their wages. What other sector in Irish society would put up with this.”

"We shouldn't be here today."

Listen to Vincent Roddy of @JoinINHFA on GLAS and AEOS delays at the group's protest in Castlebar on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/nFOq4ZlhLe
— Farmers Journal (@farmersjournal) 2 février 2017

Listen: delayed payments – people behind the numbers

In pictures: three GLAS protests in the space of just 24 hours