Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2018
177. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in the proposed RDP for the 2021 to 2027 period published by the EU Commission on 1 June 2018 that give member states the option to introduce measures to mitigate risks from extreme weather events for farmers and the agrifood sector. [49989/18]
View answerIn recent times we have seen the European agriculture sector, including Ireland, experiencing a series of extreme weather events. This has caused significant hardship and additional costs for many of our farmers.
So far, response options have been reactive in nature with ad hoc schemes being introduced to provide support to those who have been adversely affected by these weather related events.
Given the increase in the number of such weather events, I believe it is opportune to examine implementable solutions.
It is important in the first instance to acknowledge that the CAP itself, whether through price supports under Pillar 1, or physical measures under Pillar 2, does provide support to stabilise farm incomes, as well as improving on-farm structural and environmental resilience. However further consideration needs to be given as to how we can assist farmers in better managing risks. It is clear that we need to examine additional measures that will enhance the resilience of farmers in their ability to respond and adapt to adverse events. The CAP post 2020 proposals have rightly raised this issue.
There are nine principal objectives underpinning the future CAP. Amongst other issues, these are clear in recognising the role agriculture has to play in meeting our environmental and climate change targets. The agriculture sector is vulnerable to climate change, in terms of the impact adverse weather events have had on food production and crop yields. Actions under the CAP are expected to contribute 40% of the overall financial envelope of the CAP to climate objectives.
Pillar 2 schemes such as agri-environment and risk management measures can encourage farmers to farm in a more sustainable environmental friendly way, while at the same time provide support to farmers to help them better manage the risks. Since the needs and circumstances of farmers are very different between, and indeed within, Member States, it is important that Member States are afforded sufficient flexibility at national level to assess the risk management instruments appropriate to their farmers, whether these be based on combating income instability or addressing a range of physical risks. I am open to exploring other options including Insurance Schemes and Mutual Funds.
It is of course worth noting that we are in the process of negotiating these draft proposals. I will continue to work hard to ensure the best possible outcome for Irish farmers in the CAP post 2020.
