Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
90. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that all decisions on Pillar 1 and 2 of the common agricultural policy will be made at the same time; when the details of the proposed Pillar 2 proposals are due to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48450/12]
View answerI am glad this question was asked because there has not been enough discussion of Pillar 2 and related decisions.
The likelihood is that there will be some element of sequencing in the CAP reform negotiations and not all decisions will be taken at the same time, although political agreement on a deal will most likely cover all of the key elements both for Pillar 1 and for Pillar 2.
As the Deputy will be aware, there are two separate and parallel negotiating processes in play on this dossier.
I am sure the Minister would agree that the so-called objective criteria can be somewhat less than objective depending on how they are written. I am sure he does not accept that and will be trying to get these so-called objective criteria written in such a way that they will favour Ireland. Does the Minister accept that Pillar 2 payments are of greater importance proportionately to areas of less fertile land? Can he confirm there will be a disadvantaged area scheme and a rural environment protection scheme under Pillar 2? Will there be a mandatory minimum this time that must be used for Leader-type actions? In other words, the Leader-type actions will be taken out of this Pillar 2 fund. On the previous occasion, a mandatory amount was required to be devoted to that type of non-farm activity. Can the Minister confirm if that will be the case this time and indicate what level is proposed?
Can the Minister give an absolute assurance to the House that in the event of Ireland being in the Presidency of the European Union when the final decisions are made on the CAP, no decision will be made on anything, in particular on Pillar 1, until the decisions are made simultaneously? I do not mean they would all be put through on the nod on the final day, but real decision-making should not take place on Pillar 1 until we are absolutely clear on what is in Pillar 2. Can the Minister confirm whether the Government will be able to provide the co-funding for the payments that will be provided by the European Union so that we can be assured of 100% drawdown of European money?
On the last question, I can assure the Deputy that it is my full intention that we are not leaving any money behind in Brussels, as farmers would say. Ireland has been one of the better countries in the EU at ensuring that has been and is the case, under previous governments and this one. There is one matter on which I cannot give the Deputy an assurance because it is a decision for Heads of State and Government, although I will be influencing the Irish position. The Heads of State and Government will decide the budget for Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 within the overall budget. The Heads of State and Government will also decide how that is distributed between member states. The build-up to the meeting of the Heads of State and Government will be very important for CAP and the overall budget we will get. That will not be a decision for Ministers for Agriculture.
Our task, with the European Parliament, will be to decide the mechanisms for spending that money following decision on the matter by the Heads of State and Government.
I am working with the Taoiseach to ensure Ireland gets fair treatment in relation to Pillar 2. I suspect that one of the reasons for the uncertainty and ambiguity around the amount of money to be allocated under Pillar 2 is that this issue will be one of the negotiating tools of the overall multi-annual financial framework discussions. It should not be forgotten that the Common Agricultural Policy represents only 38% of the EU budget and that the Cohesion Fund and research and innovation fund are also big pots of money.
During the political negotiations on the allocation of the overall budget, which will take place in a few weeks time, I will try to ensure Pillar 2 funding is not used as a bargaining chip to try to get agreement on other allocations, including Cohesion Funds, and to ensure Ireland does not lose out in this regard. We are working hard to ensure this will be the case.
On the disadvantaged areas scheme, I envisage there will be a future DAS, although eligibility and qualification for same may change somewhat. As regards a rural environment protection scheme, we will have to wait and see what money is available in that area. A minimum amount of money will be required for Leader-type schemes.
The Minister used the phrase "to try to ensure" in his reply, which gives enough wriggle room to turn a jumbo jet. Perhaps he will clarify whether it is the intention of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure he will succeed in his attempts to get the level of funding necessary to match the European funding?
It is the Taoiseach, rather than the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who leads those negotiations.
I am speaking about Irish Exchequer funding to match European funding.
I apologise.
The Taoiseach also leads those discussions. As such, he can ensure the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine gets the money. Rather than telling us he intends to try and all the rest of it, perhaps the Minister will say whether it is the position of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that he will match the European funding provided, regardless of the amount involved.
I accept what the Minister had to say in regard to the multi-annual financial framework. What I asked, however, was whether the Minister can assure the House that if Ireland is in the chair at the time of the negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework, the decisions in regard to Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 will be made at the same time. In other words, there should be no conclusion of the negotiations on Pillar 1 until such time as the situation in relation to Pillar 2 has been clarified.
I am not sure whether the Deputy is seeking clarification around the amount of money we can spend or on how we can spend it. I cannot give any assurances on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. He can speak for himself. My job is to ensure Ireland gets sufficient money and full drawdown under EU schemes.
Is there not Cabinet policy on the matter?
I intend to ensure we do so through the budgets which we will put together over the next few years.
On the matter of overall agreement on CAP and ensuring agreement on Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 is reached at the same time, I assume what the Deputy is seeking is that we do not have half-agreement on CAP in terms of agreement on Pillar 1 allocations only. It is the intention of the Irish Presidency to finalise the entire CAP package, pillars 1 and 2.
Will that occur at the same time?
Yes. We need to work on achieving a conclusion during Ireland's Presidency, which will not be easy in terms of the amount of time available to us. We intend getting final agreement on pillars 1 and 2 at the same time, which it is hoped will be around May of next year.
Was a minimum amount sought for non-farm Pillar 2?
Yes.
What is the percentage?
I think it is between 5% and 10%. I will forward the correct figure to the Deputy.
