Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
161. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the question of front-loading of single farm payments to protect the livelihood of the 70% of farmers who receive less than €10,000 in single farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14674/13]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to the proposal for a redistributive payment on the first hectares that emerged during recent negotiations between the EU Commission and the EU Council of Ministers on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. This proposal allows Member States, as an add-on and not an alternative, to flat rate or partial convergence, to use up to 30% of the national ceiling for top-up payments to farmers on hectares up to the national average farm size (32 hectares in Ireland) or up to 30 hectares.
I am open to considering whether it would be of benefit to Ireland to avail of this option. However, I do not believe we should rush a decision on this option. The agreement last week established a Council position for opening negotiations with the European Parliament on this and all other elements of CAP reform. Many elements of that agreement may be changed in the course of these negotiations and we need to see the final outcome on all aspects of the direct payments regime before we can take informed decisions on what is the best course for Ireland. I will of course consult widely before taking any decisions on this matter.
