MEP Kathleen Funchion has called on the government to make full use of State Aid exemptions to support farmers through the price shock on fertilisers, ahead of the European Commission Fertiliser Action Plan.

The Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South said: ‘The current skyrocketing of fertiliser prices due to the US war on Iran in the Middle East has put additional pressure on farming, and threatens incomes on many farms.

‘State Aid rules for the fertiliser sector have already been relaxed, with further exemptions expected. The Commission is also planning to widen the state aid exemptions for agriculture, allowing member states to give direct support to farmers.

‘The Irish Government must set out an immediate response plan to make the most of State Aid exemptions and to mitigate the increased prices to protect farm incomes.

‘The European Commission will also be publishing a Fertiliser Action Plan in coming months and, although it will be welcome to have Commission action to tackle the many issues around fertilisers, including the overreliance on imports, farmers should be given certainty now from the Irish government rather than wait months in an already highly tumultuous global atmosphere for European action.

‘Farmers must be shielded from the worst extremes of the fallout from geopolitical instability, and it is first and foremost the role of the Irish government at home to do so.’