Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
1210. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on requests by a representative organisation (details supplied) to ensure that the new CAP insulates smaller and medium sized farmers from convergence cuts and that it includes a system that allocates more support for the first 40 hectares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32103/21]
View answerTrilogue negotiations between the Commission, European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, aimed at reaching a final agreement on the new CAP are ongoing, and the final shape of the new legislative framework will only be clear when this process is completed.
Department officials and I are examining all aspects of the evolving CAP proposals in order to assess their potential impact on all farmers and I am especially mindful of the potential impact on family farm structures. We are also engaging extensively with stakeholders, including the organisation named, throughout the negotiation process.
The Department's Stakeholder Consultative Committee has also been continuously updated throughout the development of the CAP Strategic Plan and this will continue over the coming months.
Convergence applies to all farmers with entitlements. It is unlikely, at this late stage in the negotiations, that any new measure to limit the application of convergence to small and medium sized farmers will be introduced. A so-called 'frontloading' option, which would involve the redistribution of a proportion of direct payments through the allocation of additional amounts over the first hectares of a holding, is being discussed, but no decision has yet been made on this.
As all of these direct payments measures interact with each other, it will be important to ensure that the correct balance is struck in the negotiations, and that the maximum possible flexibility is given to Member States to structure the direct payments system in a way that reflects their national circumstances. I am fighting to deliver the maximum flexibility for us to make our own decisions.
I will continue to examine all options presented during the negotiations with the objective of achieving the best possible outcome for Irish farmers.
