Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013
134. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if France or any other EU member state secures coupled payments in the common agriculture policy 2013 negotiations of 10% or more for vulnerable sectors, if he will insist on the same level of coupled support being available for Ireland to support suckler cow and sheep farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/13]
View answerUnder the CAP reform package, the EU Commission has proposed two separate ceilings for coupled payments in the future, linked to whether the Member already operates a fully decoupled payment regime at present or whether it still operates coupled support in certain sectors. The proposed ceilings are 5% in respect of Member States such as Ireland who are fully decoupled and 10% in respect of others.
I have long held the view that, as this is a discretionary measure, it seems quite inequitable to allow one Member State more discretion than another. Therefore, I believe that the same percentage limit should be applied in all Member States, rather than 5% for some and 10% for others.
However, as President of the European Council of Agriculture Ministers, my objective is to negotiate a Council position on the reform package by the end of March, with a view to securing an inter-institutional political agreement with the European Parliament and the Commission by the end of June. Bearing this in mind, I will be seeking a compromise solution that will satisfy the needs of all Member States.
