Rural Development Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Questions (498)

Tom Fleming

Question:

498. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will take into consideration that further to the re-allocation of moneys from pillar 1 of cap to pillar 2 for the expansion of rural development policies and considering with the introduction of 7% greening requirements on farms, if he will introduce a series of top up payments to smaller family farms that are hit hardest by these new measures and that by giving an extra payment to farmers on smaller holdings with lower payments will be contributing to the rural development and sustainability in rural areas by not allowing rural depopulation and the wipe-out of smaller family farms. [15060/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Last week’s agreement by the Council of Agriculture Ministers on a General Approach to the Commission’s proposals for the reform of the CAP included additional flexibility for Member States to implement alternative models for the internal distribution of direct payments.

Included in these alternative models were the Irish ‘partial convergence’ approach - which significantly reduces transfers between farmers compared to the Commission’s flat-rate proposal - and what is known as a ‘first hectares’ approach which would, in addition, redistribute a portion of the national envelope over a number of initial hectares to be decided by a Member State.

However, I do not believe we should rush a national decision on the matter. 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.