Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the steps taken to date in the context of Common Agricultural Policy reform are adequate to ensure the future development and growth of agriculture here and throughout Europe with particular reference to the retention of family farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14672/13]
View answerI am very satisfied with the progress made to date on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. To start with, the European Council agreement on 7/8 February on the next EU multiannual financial framework secures the necessary funding for the continuation of a strong CAP. Moreover, the agreement last week of the 27 Member States in the EU Council of Ministers represents an important stepping stone to securing final agreement on this reform. We are now on target to achieving our June goal of full political agreement between the three institutions of the EU – the EU Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
The four main proposals agreed last week cover the full breadth of the CAP and reflect the Irish priorities of sustainable intensification of production, environmental stewardship and the maintenance of a vibrant rural economy. I am especially pleased to note the progress made in relation to the internal convergence of direct payments, the greening of direct payments and the future of the sugar quota regime. On internal convergence, we have secured the required flexibility from Member States that allows the Irish model of partial convergence to be included in the options available for the distribution of direct payments. On greening, we have ensured that the payment may be a percentage of each farmer’s individual payment rather than a flat rate, as well as negotiating a difficult and complex compromise on the implementation of the three greening criteria proposed by the Commission. And on sugar quotas, we have secured an earlier abolition of the regime than originally sought by most Member States.
While last week’s agreement marks only a step on the road to the ultimate goal of full political agreement between the three institutions by the end of June, I am looking forward to building on the momentum created by last week’s decisions to secure that objective. And this will be good for European farmers and for Irish farmers.
