Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 6

Written Answers. - Eligible Land Rule.

Robert Molloy

Question:

25 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, that have been submitted to the European Commission on the matter of land eligible for cereal production; the response of the Commission to any such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11247/95]

Michael McDowell

Question:

79 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will have arrangements made for a reduction in the area of cereals which must be set-aside next season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11256/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 79 together.

I submitted a memorandum to Commissioner Fischler earlier this year setting out the problems associated with the eligible land rule and suggesting measures for resolution of the difficulties.

The options which I suggested were: repeal of the eligible land rule in its entirely; amendment of the rule to exclude reference to permanent pasture; retention of the eligible land rule as an option for member states, with the possibility of applying it in whole or in part; and replacement of the existing historic reference period for determining eligibility, with a rolling reference period. This would mean that land cultivated during the most recent five years would be eligible, with the reference period rolling forward by one year each year.

I have since received a reply from Commissioner Fischler indicating that while he would be reluctant to repeal the eligible land rule at this stage, the question could be examined in a study of the arable support system which is to be carried out at the end of the year.

The other suggestions I have made are still under consideration by the Commission.

A recently introduced change to the eligible land rules, which will permit substitution of eligible land with ineligible land in certain circumstances within a holding, will go some way to relieving the problems being experienced by cereal producers. The new rules are being examined in my Department with a view to assessing the types of situations in which this facility can be availed of. Details will be announced in advance of the 1995 autumn sowings.

On the question of set-aside, the rate of obligatory set-aside was reduced by 3 per cent for the current harvest year to 12 per cent for rotational set-aside and 17 per cent for non-rotational set-aside. The rates are likely to be considered again before the new season. It is not open to me to vary these rates unilaterally. It is my intention, for the next sowing season, to reduce the rate of voluntary set-aside — that is set-aside which producers may undertake above the obligatory rates. Member states are empowered to fix the level of voluntary set-aside within a maximum of 50 per cent. The rate adopted in Ireland for this year was 30 per cent. I intend to reduce this to a lower level for next year. I will ensure that the rate to be fixed will be sufficient to provide flexibility for producers to enable whole fields to be set-aside, which may not be possible if the obligatory rates only were to be applied.