Watch: EU Commissioner hears that Irish farmers have 'loans to pay off'
The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, today (Thursday, June 12) heard that Irish farmers "cannot have a drastic change" to how Ireland's farming system is funded.
Commissioner Hansen met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, at Expo 2025 in Osaka today.
Minister Heydon, who is leading an agri-food trade mission to Japan this week, described the meeting as "constructive".
According to Minister Heydon one of the key areas of discussion was around Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026.
The minister said that Ireland will have a key role to play - as will he as the chair of the AGRIFISH Council - at a critical juncture for negotiations on the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - which will have major ramifications for Irish farmers.
"I also raised the absolute priorities around CAP - around the need for a fully funded single fund with the two pillars but I recognise Commissioner Hansen wants the same and that uh he has been working towards this.
"We discussed how I can support him in his efforts, as he is one voice in the commission under a lot of competing demands," Minister Heydon added.
The minister said that they also discussed the impact of not getting the right CAP in place.
Minister Heydon highlighted the impact this could have on Irish farmers including generational renewal challenges.
"Our farmers have invested heavily in their farms, supported by the Irish government, supported by the EU through measures like TAMS and beyond.
"Those farmers have bills to repay, loans to pay off and we can't have a drastic change to how our farming system is funded. We discussed that in great depth, " he added.
According to Minister Heydon he also raised his concerns "around the EU deforestation regulation" with Commissioner Hansen.
He said this is "potentially a very problematic regulation coming into effect next year for Irish farmers" and Minister Heydon said that Commissioner Hansen took his points of view on board.
"I am really concerned that the regulation at present around deforestation would put a very significant burden on our farmers at a time where we need to reduce the regulation on our farmers cut red tape and not increase bureaucracy for them," the minister added.
One other key topic that has high on the agenda during their meeting was the nitrates derogation and Ireland’s request to the European Commission to retain the nitrates derogation.
According to Minister Heydon, Commissioner Hansen "knows very clearly the importance of the nitrates derogation for our Irish farming sector - not just for our 7,000 derogation farmers".
The minister highlighted to the commissioner that Ireland's farming ecosystem is "hugely interdependent on each other".
He said while the European Commission's DG Environment is the lead in relation to water quality, Commissioner Hansen also has a role to play in terms of lending his support to Ireland's ongoing efforts to retain its derogation.
Minister Heydon said the commissioner is "very aware that this is a top priority for us in Ireland this year".
Additional reporting by Stella Meehan
