15th June, 2012
ICSA is hosting an open forum on the CAP Reform Proposals this coming Thursday night in the Clanard Court Hotel in Athy, with guest appearances from Liam Aylward MEP – who is a member of the influential European Parliament Agriculture Committee – and Martin Heydon TD, chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party agriculture committee. There will be also presentations from a senior Department of Agriculture official, and from ICSA President Gabriel Gilmartin and General Secretary Eddie Punch.
Local Kildare farmer, Billy Gray, who is the chairman of the ICSA CAP Committee, said the meeting is ideally timed, just after the publication of the important EU Parliament reports, which set out proposed amendments to Commissioner Ciolos’ draft on CAP reform.
“Thursday evening is the first opportunity for Irish farmers to get a run down on the debate being held this week in Brussels on the vital Santos report, which is suggesting significant amendments to the original Ciolos document.”
“I would urge all farmers to attend as this meeting will give a vital chance to farmers to have an input into the response from the EU parliament agricultural committee. It is not too late to influence the debate at EU level but the window of opportunity will be closing in the next month.”
ICSA President Gabriel Gilmartin said, “Ireland has a real opportunity to influence the outcome of the CAP reform talks. We need to make sure that our representatives in Europe know what Irish farming needs from CAP post-2013 and that’s what this meeting is all about.”
The meeting takes place on Thursday 21st of June, at the Clanard Court Hotel, Athy, Co. Kildare, beginning at 8.30pm.
