Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
488. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects to achieve the targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 notwithstanding any changes in the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14587/13]
View answer490. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects the agri-food sector to develop over the next ten years with particular reference to the need to remain competitive on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14589/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 490 together.
I remain fully committed to the growth targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 and I am very confident that these targets will be achieved. The progress achieved to date on the Food Harvest targets justifies my confidence. At end 2012, the value of both primary output and exports are estimated to have increased by 23% and 12% respectively while the value- added element of the sector has increased by 5.6% at end 2010, the latest data available from the CSO. In that context, I anticipate that the Food Harvest growth targets of attaining a 33% increase in the value of primary agriculture and fisheries and over a 40% value increase in exports and value added product by 2020 will be met and even exceeded if global economic conditions remain favourable.
Furthermore, I strongly believe that the significant progress achieved at recent EU negotiations has provided the necessary robust framework to facilitate optimal development and growth in the agri-food sector over the next ten years. The recent outcomes achieved under the Irish Presidency have delivered a Common Agricultural Policy that will strengthen productive farming and will support the goals of competitiveness, sustainability and growth outlined in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy.
The initial steps were taken in February when agreement was achieved on the EU multiannual financial framework (MFF). Subject to the consent of the European Parliament, the seven year EU budget agreed at the EU summit provided clarity on overall EU agriculture funding. It guaranteed funding of over €1.5 billion per year for Ireland from the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) including a direct payment ceiling of over €1.2 billion per year. In addition, approximately €313 million per year in current terms will be available from EU funding for rural development. When taken together, the EU funding to Ireland from direct payments, rural development and market supports will amount to over €11 billion over the seven year period 2014-2020.
This week, negotiations on the reform of the CAP moved to a new level when the package of proposals, tabled by the Irish Presidency, was agreed by the European Agriculture Ministers and so achieved an agreed position to a General Approach on CAP reform. Particular points of interest to Irish farmers were the flexibility achieved in the way in which direct payments can be distributed within Member States (internal convergence), the concession that the greening of direct payments may be a percentage of each farmer’s individual payment rather than a flat rate, and an earlier abolition of the sugar quota regime.
The negotiation process will now move to the final stage of the negotiations, where the Irish Presidency will represent the European Council in discussions with the European Parliament and with the Commission to achieve a final outcome on the reform of the CAP. While the progress achieved to date augers well for achieving the Presidency’s target of an inter- institutional political agreement by end June, there remains a significant task ahead and a very clear and strong focus is required to achieve our final objective of a reform package which underpins the Food Harvest strategy of Smart, Green, Growth.
