Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 5

Written Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

104 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals, if any, he has to advance the cause of Irish agriculture in the context of the CAP reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23346/98]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

105 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals, if any, he has made at EU level to provide for the future of Irish agriculture in the course of any reviews taking place in respect of CAP reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23347/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together.

The Commission's detailed proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy were published on 18 March 1998. A special meeting of the Council of Ministers was convened on 31 March 1998 to enable Ministers to put forward their initial reactions to the proposals. At that meeting, I informed the Commissioner and my colleagues in the Council of the economic significance of the Irish interests that would be affected by the proposals and told them that the proposals were seriously damaging to Irish agriculture and the Irish economy and that, consequently, Ireland rejected them in their present form.

A preliminary technical examination of the proposals was carried out over the following two months and the proposals were again discussed at a meeting of the Council of Ministers on 25-26 May, when a progress report was prepared for the European Council in Cardiff on 15-16 June. The report contained an undertaking that the dependence of particular member states on specific sectors would be taken into account in the final agreement. That undertaking was in response to my request that the importance of beef and milk to the Irish economy should be acknowledged. The report included, also at my request, a recognition of the need to avoid renationalisation of the CAP and distortion of competition. The European Council agreed that further negotiations should be based on the conclusions reached by the May Council.

Technical examination of the proposals is continuing in preparation for the meeting of the Council of Ministers later this month. It is expected that this meeting will make a further report to the European Council meeting to be held in Vienna on 11/12 December.

During the coming months of negotiations, I will continue to put Ireland's case forcefully to my ministerial colleagues and to Commissioner Fischler both in the Council and bilaterally. It is my objective to secure a final agreement which will provide a favourable framework within which the Irish agriculture and food industries can continue to develop for the benefit of workers in those industries and for the economy as a whole. In particular, I will be seeking full compensation for any price cuts, non-discrimination as between member states in any milk quota increase, more favourable treatment for extensive production and effective and practical measures for rural development and further improvement of agricultural structures. I will also oppose any move towards the co-financing of direct payments.