Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
962. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the outcome of discussions at the recent EU Agriculture Council in relation to CAP funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20454/20]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to discussions on the Multiannual Financial Framework at the European Council. The retention of a sufficient budget for the post-2020 CAP has been a key objective of Ireland throughout the negotiations on the post-2020 EU budget. The recent agreement at the European Council in July represents a positive outcome, as we have sought, in challenging negotiations, to reverse the original cuts proposed. We have protected the CAP Budget for Ireland and successfully reversed the damaging cuts proposed. I also welcome the inclusion in the EU Multiannual Financial Framework of a significant €5 billion Brexit adjustment Reserve to help those Member States most affected by Brexit.
I welcome the outcome of the negotiations in respect of the CAP for Ireland. Ireland has consistently rejected proposed cuts to the CAP budget post-2020, particularly given the additional environmental and climate demands being made of farmers, and the need to meet the higher levels of environment and climate ambition set out in the new EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies.
In recognition of the particular structural challenges facing our agricultural sector, the package agreed includes a special additional allocation of €300 million in 2018 prices - some €337 million in current prices - for Ireland. This national allocation has been made from the rural development element of the traditional MFF budgetary framework. Detailed assessment of the overall proposal is ongoing and there are a number of elements to it.
EU funding for CAP programmes will amount to some €386 billion in current prices, in comparison to €375 billion allocated for the current CAP for the EU 27 and €365 billion originally proposed by the Commission.
At the recent Agrifish Council in July which considered elements of the new CAP green architecture, I highlighted the importance of the retention of an adequate CAP budget in light of the ongoing needs of farmers, including the requirements of higher levels of environment and climate ambition set out in the new EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies.
