Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013
146. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the event of a new reference year being decided as part of the common agriculture policy reform negotiations, if the lessor or the lessee will be entitled to the single payment entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6965/13]
View answerThe European Commission’s proposals for the reform of the CAP post-2013 included a proposal to use 2014 as a reference year for establishing entitlements to future direct payments. I am, of course, aware that this proposal, as currently formulated, could create a number of problems both in the land rental market up to 2014 and in the establishment of entitlements.
I would emphasise that this issue is by no means settled at this point. The Commission announced recently that it was proposing to delay the implementation of certain aspects of the reform until 2015, and this will also have to be factored into the discussion on this point.
On the specific question of whether the lessor or lessee will hold the entitlement, the entitlement would normally fall due to the lessor of the land in question, as it is he or she who has the capacity to declare the land, and, of course, there is the added condition that eligibility is conditional on having activated at least one entitlement in 2011. However, as the proposal currently stands, there is provision for the conclusion of contracts to transfer entitlements on leased land to one or more farmers. This will be a matter for the lessor and lessee to agree.
I would again advise farmers that they should not rush into investment or long-term leasing decisions on the basis of the current proposals. Detailed clarification and further negotiation remains to be done in this area. My objective at all times will be to ensure that the system of entitlements that is finally agreed will be in the best interests of productive and active farmers.
