Vol. 573 No. 4
167 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to a recent survey by Macra na Feirme in which it was found that 39% of respondents are of the view that the current reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy will be damaging for Irish agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25587/03]
I am aware of the results of the survey on a number of social and agricultural issues that was conducted by Macra na Feirme among 101 participants in a Young Farmer of the Future competition. The survey disclosed a number of interesting results, including the finding that 62% of the respondents said they were in favour of full decoupling, the most significant element in the reform, with only 13% against. I was particularly pleased to note that 81% of the respondents said they were either "optimistic" or "very optimistic" about the future of Irish farming. I should also add that during the information meetings on the mid-term review conducted by my Department a strong mood in favour of full decoupling was evident.
The agreement concluded in June by the Council of Agriculture Ministers represents the most fundamental change to the Common Agricultural Policy since we joined the Community 30 years ago and results in a reshaped CAP based on the principles of market orientation and environmental sustainability. This agreement, together with the agreement reached by the European Council in Brussels in November 2002 on the future financing of the CAP, provides a high level of security for Ireland's benefits from the CAP for the next ten years.
