Ivor Callely
Question:192 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the impact the Common Agricultural Policy has had on the farming community here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24806/01]
Written Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy.
The influence of the CAP on the Irish farming community can be most easily measured in terms of transfers from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund to support incomes and assist development of farming structures. These have increased from £37 million in 1973 to £1,352 million in 2000. In the annual review and outlook, published by my Department, the overall net impact of the CAP is measured in terms of both a net budget effect, that is, EU receipts less Ireland's contribution to the CAP budget, and the trade benefits that result from Irish companies selling to EU markets where prices are higher than those on non-EU markets. These two figures are calculated to have yielded a combined benefit of £1.44 billion in 1999.