19 Jan 2012, 16:26
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture met with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos today for a detailed discussion on the ongoing CAP negotiations.
The Commissioner is in Dublin for a series of meetings on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which will come into effect from 2014 to 2020.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Committee Members thank Commissioner Ciolos for a candid briefing on the status of the CAP negotiations. Despite the range of political opinion on the Committee, Members are at one on the importance of the negotiations to Ireland.
“Agriculture and food production is a key driver of economic recovery and the Committee commends the Commissioner on maintaining levels of CAP funding in what is a difficult financial period for Europe.”
“In a wide ranging meeting, Committee Members pointed to the particular problems created in Ireland by setting 2014 as a reference year for CAP payments. While the Commissioner was quite forceful in arguing that the current situation was not sustainable, the Committee is encouraged that he will take on board concerns that the proposal was causing considerable distortion in land prices.
“Members expressed some scepticism around whether the ‘greening’ proposals might lead to further bureaucracy and reward less productive, more casual farmers and also conveyed the hope that sugar beet production Ireland might once again be revitalised into a thriving industry
“CAP negotiations are likely to be finalised during the Irish Presidency in the first half of next year, our Committee has a particular role to play in ensuring the interests of Irish farming and ensuring the sustainable development of agriculture across Europe are safeguarded.
“In a reflection of the cross-border implications of the reforms, the Committee welcomed welcomed a delegation as observers, from the Assembly's Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, led by their Chair Mr Paul Frew.”
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan