The new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Barry Cowen has confirmed the Government’s commitment to ringfencing €1.5bn for a new REPS for farmers.
In an exclusive interview with the Irish Farmers Journal, he said: “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 [and] that there is no gap for those for whom the GLAS scheme comes to an end next year.”
The newly appointed minister also committed to designing and rolling out the €50m COVID-19 compensation fund for the beef sector within weeks.
Industry sources indicate a willingness within the Department of Agriculture to use 2019 as a reference year for payment to beef finishers.
In further good news for livestock farmers, Minister Cowen believes farming can meet its environmental obligations without cutting the national herd: “I don’t buy into this concept that you cut the herd."
“There was no undue burden ever going to be placed on agriculture,” he said.
Read more
'I want to reiterate the commitment to a €1.5bn REPS'
'I don't buy into this concept that you cut the herd' - Minister Cowen
Senator Hackett, an unexpected Minister
The new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Barry Cowen has confirmed the Government’s commitment to ringfencing €1.5bn for a new REPS for farmers.
In an exclusive interview with the Irish Farmers Journal, he said: “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 [and] that there is no gap for those for whom the GLAS scheme comes to an end next year.”
The newly appointed minister also committed to designing and rolling out the €50m COVID-19 compensation fund for the beef sector within weeks.
Industry sources indicate a willingness within the Department of Agriculture to use 2019 as a reference year for payment to beef finishers.
In further good news for livestock farmers, Minister Cowen believes farming can meet its environmental obligations without cutting the national herd: “I don’t buy into this concept that you cut the herd."
“There was no undue burden ever going to be placed on agriculture,” he said.
Read more
'I want to reiterate the commitment to a €1.5bn REPS'
'I don't buy into this concept that you cut the herd' - Minister Cowen
Senator Hackett, an unexpected Minister
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