Galway IFA members visit European Parliament

MEP Nina Carberry hosted a joint delegation from the Irish Farmers’ Association and the Ulster Farmers’ Union during their visit to the European Parliament in Brussels.

The group included Galway IFA members Teresa Roche and Anne Mitchell. Carberry brought the delegation on a guided tour of the Parliament and outlined her work across key committees.

As Ireland’s only member of the Parliament’s Budget Committee, she stressed the need for a ring-fenced and strengthened Common Agricultural Policy in the next EU budget.

Opposition voiced

The group reiterated their strong opposition to the European Commission’s initial proposal to merge agriculture and cohesion funding into a single pot.

Carberry reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the role of women in agriculture and ensuring that EU policymaking better reflects their contribution.

Discussions during the visit also covered Ireland’s nitrates derogation, generational renewal, the Mercosur trade deal, and the ongoing challenges posed by bird flu and bluetongue.

The delegation concluded their trip with a visit to a dairy farm outside Brussels and engaged with a wide range of MEPs and EU policy stakeholders.