Sir, - I support the call of Pat Corcoran (December 4th) for a more equitable division of European Union subsidies for farmers. In my book, In the Land Commission - A memoir 1933-1978, I dealt extensively with this matter. Points made include:
Over the past 20 years, have the Departments of Agriculture and Finance seen nothing amiss with the totally unfair division of EU funds which gives 80 per cent to wealthy big farmers, leaving scant picking for the rest, including the small farmers?
Ireland is in a unique position to raise this very important issue with the EU with the aim of safeguarding the future of our small family farms. I think we could count on strong support from several countries, including France.
It would be a very good idea if a senior economist was appointed in the Department of Finance. The remit should be to send out very strong signals that the havenots in our society are being unfairly treated or completely overlooked. - Yours, etc., Patrick J. Sammon,
Sydney Parade Avenue, Dublin 4.