Jackie Cahill
Question:566. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on proposals by a farming organisation (details supplied). [31978/18]
View answerThursday, 12 July 2018
Questions (566)
Written answers
The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021 - 2027 were launched on Friday 1 June 2018 by Commissioner Hogan. The Commission proposals, as drafted, involve significant changes, including in relation to governance, the distribution of direct payments among farmers and the environmental conditionality attaching to such payments.
They provide for additional discretion for Member States in configuring the measures available, within parameters laid down in the draft proposals. The new Commission proposals commit to a more significant environmental ambition than the current CAP schemes, including in pillar I, where an eco measure, which would be mandatory for member states, but voluntary for farmers, is provided for.
The proposals also preserve the basic architecture of the current CAP. They allow Member States to consider options to support farmers in Areas of Natural Constraint, those who adopt environmental or climate friendly actions, collaborative actions such as farm partnerships, young farmers taking over holdings for the first time, on farm investments, risk management tools and knowledge exchange and information.
The new CAP proposals have only just been announced and the final shape of the Regulations will not be apparent for some time. We are now at the beginning of what will be intensive and challenging negotiations on the final shape of these draft Regulations. I intend to work with the Commission, other Member States and stakeholders to shape these proposals into an effective new CAP. My Department is still analysing the proposals and their potential implications for the Irish agrifood sector.
I have always sought to have a broad consultation on these proposals. Earlier in the year my Department engaged in a national consultation involving six meetings with stakeholders across the country. In addition, on 4th of July, I hosted a Conference on the new CAP legislative proposals for interested stakeholders, including farm bodies, state agencies and the environmental pillar. The Deputy, along with other Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture Food and the Marine, was invited to participate in this Conference.
This was a timely opportunity to bring all interested stakeholders together for a constructive discussion on the future CAP. The range of speakers came from the political sphere, from the European Commission, and from my Department. The conference was a very useful opportunity to hear the views of the many stakeholders involved.
Over the coming months there will be detailed negotiations at all levels across the EU as we work together to shape the final outcome. At the centre of all our considerations will be the need to ensure that CAP Post 2020, properly funded, will continue to support farm families and the rural economy.
The current draft proposals must first be agreed at EU Council level. Whenever the agreed final EU Council position on the CAP proposals is reached, the proposals will then be discussed at trilogues involving the EU Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Council.
These processes must all be worked through and concluded before a final text can be agreed. I will be working with my colleagues in Europe to ensure that the final CAP regulations can support farm families in the many challenges they face.
I understand that the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan is nearing completion by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and is currently being refined in consultation with Departmental stakeholders. The draft was circulated to the Consultative Committee and observations from members of the Committee were sought. Committee members requested a period in which to make observations, and the final observations were received last week. DCHG will review those observations and meet with the Committee as soon as practical and the plan will then go to public consultation.
For my part, I will continue to consult with stakeholders as the negotiation process for the new CAP proceeds, having regard to the need to deliver on national strategic priorities and to make the most effective use of the funds available. However, we are not yet at the scheme design stage for the post 2020 CAP.