'I want to reiterate the commitment to a €1.5bn REPS'

With his feet firmly under the table in Agriculture House, the new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Barry Cowen, sat down for an exclusive interview with the Irish Farmers Journal.

He first set out his immediate priorities as Minister.

“In relation to COVID-19, we are very conscious of the efforts within the industry and the public are very appreciative of the fact that food has been on the shelves and on the table, that professionalism and expertise has been maintained,” he said.

The public are very appreciative of the fact that food has been on the shelves and on the table

“There have been implications for certain sectors – the previous government made a commitment in relation to the beef package.

“In the coming weeks, it is my priority to ensure that we design a plan to meet with the expectation that is there,” he said, referring to the €50m beef support fund announced by his predecessor.

Minister Cowen sounded a warning note on the threat of Brexit.

“I am conscious of the negotiations that are ongoing, in relation to a trade deal to ensure that there will be no tariffs and there is free trade, but I’m also conscious of the implications of a no trade deal and I’ll be ensuring that this Department is working with everyone in the sector and across governmental departments to make sure that this country is ready to meet any demands that are placed upon us because of that,” he added.

CAP negotiations

On CAP too, the Minister is determined.

“Obviously, CAP negotiations are pivotal to the sector. The funding issue is the most pivotal and important to be dealt with first. I’ll be impressing that on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

“At the next meeting of EU leaders, the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) will be discussed. It’s pivotal that there’s relevant funding to meet the demands of a new CAP.

It’s pivotal that there’s relevant funding to meet the demands of a new CAP

“I highlighted that point not only with my European counterparts earlier in the week, but also in the CAP consultative committee meetings that we’ve had.

“There’s ongoing dialogue with the various sectoral representations, and I’d like to pay tribute to the work and the effort they are making.”

Cowen said the promises made to farmers in the Programme for Government are to the fore of his mind.

“We want to put processes in place in the Department, to implement and seek to track the priorities it [the Programme for Government] contains. We have environmental obligations to be met, but we’ve to marry that with supporting farm families and maintaining farm incomes with tailored initiatives to assist in that regard.

There is a huge commitment for a €1.5bn package for REPS

“I have met with the Food Wise committee too – there is a commitment to move within six months to the Food Wise 2030 package.

“Again, acknowledging the commitment and the huge input of stakeholders, I’m committed to – with chairman Tom Arnold – ensuring that is updated to meet the demands of the industry.”

REPS commitment

Minister Cowen doubled down on the promise of a new, well-funded REPS.

“There is a huge commitment for a €1.5bn package for REPS. I want to reiterate that commitment. We are working with officials and stakeholders to ensure that we can meet that commitment, that there’s no gap for those for whom GLAS comes to an end next year.

We want to make sure that when we are making such a large contribution, that it is matched at the other end

“We would hope to begin a process, whether it be a rolling-over of GLAS with new initiatives and new pilots within that,” he said.

“We are also conscious of our obligations within the new CAP, in relation to the framework and the legalities around that and the funding. We want to make sure that when we are making such a large contribution, that it is matched at the other end,” Minister Cowen said.

“Working in parallel to get those issues sorted as soon as we can, to be in a position to move with the transition next year, even in advance of the new CAP coming into effect in 2023.

“We want to be in a position to move with our own scheme in 2022, and pilot some initiatives next year,” he said.

Referring to the planned funding of REPS partially from carbon taxes, the Minister said: “The brave move we have made is to take funds from ringfenced revenue, in advance of CAP, and the matching funds that will be matched thereafter, and we remain committed to that,” he said.