Sir, – I note your headline on the Editorial regarding the Common Agricultural Policy “A good deal for farmers” (March 21st). That may well be, but it’s certainly not a good deal for hard-pressed taxpayers in these austere times.
The CSO figures for 2011 showed 75 per cent of farm income came from handouts from the taxpayers at EU and national level. Whatever the condition of others, farming occupies a privileged position in this State. Take the upcoming property tax. I have an acre of land with my house which will be subject to the tax, however, if I had 1,000 acres of farmland, it would not. The farmer will claim the land is his source of income, however, if my source was a hotel, restaurant or shop, that principle would not apply. Before the tax kicked in, I’d be hit by hefty council rates, but not “the poor farmer”.
We taxpayers are also responsible for providing tax-free diesel for the ever-increasing farm machinery and SUVs. We are also subsidising criminals. I’m informed by the Revenue that criminals are acquiring vast quantities of this tax-free fuel, laundering out the marking dye and selling it off at full price all over the State. As a member of the Labour Party, I am trying to get some traction on all these issues and would advise other citizens to follow suit. – Yours, etc,
JAMES MORAN,
Knockanure,
Bunclody,
Co Wexford.