EU Commissioner Phil Hogan finalising Brexit emergency aid deal for local farmers

THE Irish EU Commissioner and former Kilkenny TD Phil Hogan is putting together a new deal to come to the aid of Irish farmers in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Under the deal, farmers in Kilkenny and throughout the rest of the country would be eligible to avail of hundreds of millions of euros of aid from the European Commission to offset a collapse in beef and dairy prices, according to weekend reports.

Mr Hogan and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed met to finalise details of the scheme at a meeting with officials from the Irish government and European Commission in Brussels last week.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is calling for €20 per animal in compensation for every 5c per kg reduction in beef prices, which would cost up to €4 billion.

The IFA has said beef farming is Ireland’s most exposed sector, with half our exports going to Britain.

IFA President Joe Healy travelled to Brussels last week and “made a very strong case to EU commissioner Phil Hogan that we need support”, his spokesman told the Sunday Times.

The IFA added: “As recently as 10 days ago at our Kilkenny IFA dinner, [Hogan] gave strong assurances that the EU will not be found wanting.

“Beef farmers in particular are having a torrid time, hit by a triple whammy of bad prices, spiralling costs and reducing direct payments.”