Election Focuses MEPs’ minds

It is, perhaps, indicative of the attention the MEPs have paid to the widespread discontent shown by European farmers in recent months to the excessive bureaucracy they face in complying with CAP regulations. There is nothing quite like a pending election to focus politicians’ minds. The European Parliament, of course, is only one leg of the stool, with the Council of Ministers and the Commission agreement being needed before any changes in the way the CAP is implemented and regulated can happen. Is it cynical to suggest this was an empty gesture by parliamentarians as they head home to canvass for votes? The CAP change proposition secured 431 votes in favour, with 130 MEPs voting against it and 33 abstentions from the vote. Among the opponents of the bill were some notable Irish names. While Billy Kelleher was in favour, his Fianna Fáil colleague Barry Andrews voted against the overall legislation, presumably because some amendments he favoured were not included in the final presentation to the Parliament. Clare Daly and Mick Wallace also voted against the bill as did the Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan and Ciarán Cuffe. Luke 'Ming' Flanagan abstained on the vote, while the Fine Gael MEPs, Seán Kelly, Frances Fitzgerald and Colm Markey, supported the measure. At time of print, Maria Walsh is not named on the vote lists provided by the Parliament.