16th June 2003

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Ferris calls on government to reject partial decoupling

Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, Martin Ferris TD has called upon Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh to reject any compromise on the proposed reform of the CAP that is based on partial decoupling. Deputy Ferris was speaking on the eve of Tuesday's crucial talks on the proposals that have been made by EU Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler.

Deputy Ferris said;

``We have been arguing for months that partial decoupling represents the very worst case scenario facing Irish farmers in the context of any reform of the CAP. Irish farmers are now almost unanimous in sharing Sinn Fein's view on this issue and yet the Irish Government appears to be willing to accept a Franco-German compromise based on some form of decoupling.

``It is our belief that this is not the best option available. We would therefore call on the Minister and his team to reject partial decoupling and argue for the type of reform that will benefit the majority of Irish farmers and which has been indicated by studies carried out on behalf of the Department and by other researchers around the main components of the Fishcler proposals''.ENDS

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