Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
1270. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the European Commission proposal to cap direct payments at €100,000 with a gradual reduction for those over €60,000 in the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16921/21]
View answerThe new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 include a number of measures which concern redistribution of direct payments, including:
- an overall cap of €100,000;
- degressive reduction of payments above €60,000;
- a complementary redistributive income support scheme, and
- the convergence of payments towards a minimum of 75% of the average payment per hectare nationally.
These measures, and others under the direct payments ceiling, are inextricably linked to each other. This means that each time one of the elements is changed, each of the other elements must also change.
I have always been clear that I support capping. However, there are differing views across the Council, Parliament and Commission as to how the direct payments elements should be implemented in the next CAP. Discussions on the legislative proposals are ongoing between the three institutions, and these elements are still subject to change. The final shape of the CAP regulations will not be known until final agreement has been reached, which is expected in the coming months.
