Mairead McGuinness Fine Gael MEP

Ireland stands to lose €900,000 in food aid from the EU for people in need in this country, unless a deadlock at Council can be resolved in the coming weeks, according to Ireland East MEP, Mairead McGuinness.

She says currently the EU food programme provides €1.2 million to Ireland to purchase food for distribution to people in need.

“The programme had a total budget of €500 million but this is set to be reduced to €137 million as a result of the method of calculation which links the budget to the level of food stocks in EU intervention stores,” she explained.

“Six member states are blocking efforts to unlock the impasse and allow for an increase in the budget to ensure that for next year charities that avail of the programme will continue to receive food aid for distribution.

“At a time of economic crisis, this programme cannot be diminished,” she asserted.

The MEP said that some 18 million people across the EU avail of aid under this programme. And she warned that if a solution is not found many of these needy citizens will go hungry, she warned.

Speaking in the European Parlaiment McGuinness last night urged the Commission to continue working towards a solution to the problem and called on the six member states blocking the programme to think again and act in the interests of the most needy.

“For the period post 2014 we may need to review the programme and how it is funded and operated, but it would be unthinkable to tell the charities that distribute the food aid that next year there would be a much lower budget, leaving them unable to help those who rely on food aid,” she said.