Vol. 515 No. 1
118 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will avail of the option under the new CAP reforms of Agenda 2000 of attaching eco-responsibility to all agricultural support payments, including compensatory payments. [5479/00]
In so far as direct payments in the form of arable aid and livestock premia are concerned, the Agenda 2000 agreement introduced a requirement on member states to take the environmental protection measures which they consider to be appropriate, based on a number of options, in relation to the land and production subject to the payments. One of these options is the observance of ‘general mandatory environmental requirements'.
In relation to compensatory payments, the Agenda 2000 agreement requires the beneficiaries to apply "usual good farming practice compatible with the needs to safeguard the environment and maintain the countryside, in particular by sustainable farming".
I have decided, in the light of Irish environmental conditions and, in particular, the extensive nature of Irish farming, that EU requirements in both cases referred to above can most appropriately be met by ensuring that existing national and EU environmental legislation is complied with. To this purpose, my Department's inspectors will, from this year, check for compliance when visiting farms for the purpose of implementing these schemes. In the case of compensatory payments, the arrangements have been submitted for approval by the European Commission in the Common Agricultural Policy rural development plan.
119 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will adopt the recommendation of Earthwatch that farmers not in receipt of support payments become subject to good farming practice either through inclusion in the IPC licensing system or through mandatory nutrient management planning and landspreading codes. [5480/00]
Farmers not in receipt of any support payments must comply with national environmental legislation and local authority bye-laws. Primary responsibility for the enactment of such legislation lies with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and, at local level, with local authorities.
Farmers in receipt of support payments must comply with the provisions of the relevant scheme under which such support is granted. In such circumstances my Department has in place control measures to ensure that the provisions of the various schemes are complied with.
