Any going back on funding promises in reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) would be opposed by the Taoiseach at the EU summit in Brussels this weekend, said Minster for Agriculture Mary Coughlan yesterday.
"The changes that have taken place and agreed in the Cap cannot be unravelled," the Minister told a press conference in Dublin.
Saying there had been an element of "scaremongering" about Cap funding, Ms Coughlan said: "My view is that a commitment was made to the farmers as we were the first country to decouple fully, giving them a clear indication for the next 10 years what their income would be.
"It is on that basis that the Taoiseach and the team will be supportive of what has been provided, and will be trying to ensure that there is no change in the monies that are being made available."
She said farm income and farm payments were paramount to Ireland, and that the Taoiseach would be adamant that Cap reform had taken place.
"In no way is he going to accept any changes in it."
She said there was a lot of supposition about what would happen.
This was especially so as some heads of government were not as supportive of agriculture as Ireland's was.
Failure to reach agreement this weekend would create a vacuum next week where decisions had to be taken on rural development.
Ms Coughlan said some urbanised countries did not appear to understand the changes that had taken place in Cap, which to them "would seem to be a dirty word".
There had been pain for farmers who were producing food for the same price that they got six and seven years ago yet production costs had risen.
"My view is that there is not an appreciation by those outside agriculture of the change and challenges within agriculture, and we need to get that across," she said.
The single payment was not linked to production, and was not index-linked. It was wrong, therefore, to say that farmers were getting an easy time.
Figures released yesterday by the Minister showed that the cheque in the post last year accounted for 74 per cent of aggregate farm income. Ms Coughlan, who was launching her statement of strategy and annual review, said she hoped to see the progression of the Nitrates Directive very quickly, but this was now a matter for the Department of the Environment.
In her strategy statement she said it was appropriate that the Department of Agriculture and Food be centrally involved in debate and developments aimed at addressing lifestyle factors and societal concerns about issues such as obesity and nutrition.
It was equally appropriate that the department be involved in promoting healthy eating, and in encouraging consumers here and abroad to avail of the wide spectrum of healthy options which Irish-produced food had to offer
She said this also applied to promoting a well-managed countryside which would sustain not only a vibrant agriculture sector but which would add generally to the quality of life of all the people through its contribution to air and water quality, biodiversity and recreational opportunity.
She said if the department was to have a change of name she would make it the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition.