Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson
FOLLOWING the vote to leave the European Union, farmers in the North will lose out by as much as €34,000 a year, Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has warned.
Farmers receive annual subsidies from the EU but that will end once Britain removes itself from European Union membership
Said the Derry politician: “The agriculture industry, one of the most vital industries on this island, now faces serious problems.
“When this referendum was called, and indeed throughout the campaign, the case of Irish farmers did not cross the mind of the British Tory party.
“The economy in the north relies heavily on EU agricultural payments and subsidies, as well as other important regional funding. Given the Tory agenda of austerity and thire cutting of the bloc grant, we in Sinn Féin have absolutely no confidence that the British government will replace these lost funds”
“In terms of the Common Agriculture Policy alone, farmers could lose in the region of €34,000 a year, which would cripple their livelihoods.
“This is not to mention the impact possible restrictions placed on cross-border trading would have.
“We in Sinn Féin fear that in future negotiations and in the eventual case of a Brexit, the British government won’t fight for farmers in the north. Sinn Féin will continue to stand up for Irish farmers and fight their case in Europe, Leinster House, the Assembly and local government.”
Tags: