Ireland's case against the most damaging elements of the Fischler CAP reforms will be presented forcefully at the next EU Farm Council meeting, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, promised farm leaders yesterday.
He had invited the farm leaders to meet him in the wake of the Fischler announcement on Wednesday, which he said represented a fundamental shift in EU agriculture policy.
A Department statement issued after the meeting said that Mr Walsh "appreciated and shared the concerns expressed by the farm organisations about the serious effects of the proposals".
It continued: "He made it clear he intends to present his views forcefully at the Council [on Monday\], which will signal the commencement of intense negotiations lasting several months."
In addition to normal consultations with the farm organisations, the Minister said the various sectoral consultative groups, which he had established and which had operated so successfully in the Agenda 2000 negotiations, would continue to meet as the negotiations progressed.
In another statement issued after the meeting, the president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, Mr Pat O'Rourke, said he had strongly impressed on the Minister the need to reject the Fischler package.
"Minister Walsh agreed with the ICMSA assessment that a comprehensive study of the proposals, taking account of all the factors, should be carried out as a matter of urgency," Mr O'Rourke said.
The president of the Irish Farmers' Association, Mr John Dillon, said he accepted the Minister had recognised the gravity of the situation and had given a commitment to face down the greatest challenge to Irish agriculture since Ireland joined the EU 30 years ago.
He said the first crucial test for the Minister would be on Monday in Brussels, where Commissioner Fischler would try to push through agreement in principle by the farm ministers.
He said the Minister and the Government could not concede on this point of principle, as the Commissioner would railroad through his proposals "given the slightest political nod from the Farm Council".
The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society and Macra na Feirme also attended the meeting.