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Common Agricultural Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Questions (596)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

596. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the fact that the four flagship eco schemes announced as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy suggest that forestry can be included as part of the next CAP and could be included in any new eco schemes even if the national forestry programme was to be funded entirely separately from CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34438/21]

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Written answers

Eco-Schemes are being proposed for the first time as part of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and will be funded from within Pillar 1 of the CAP budget. Eco-Schemes will be annual schemes that farmers can choose to participate in each year. Each Member State will have to develop an Eco-Scheme and will have to establish a list of Eco-Scheme actions.

The European Commission has outlined that agricultural practices that could be supported by Eco-Schemes must be related to climate, environment, animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance. The measures are to be defined on the basis of the needs and priorities identified at national/regional levels and their level of ambition has to go beyond the requirements and obligations established under the baseline, including conditionality. The measures shall contribute to reaching the EU Green Deal targets.

The Farm to Fork Strategy, published by the Commission in 2020, lists a number of sustainable practices which may be supported under Eco-Schemes, with agro-forestry being one such practice. My Department is currently examining ways in which a tree planting measure could be supported under the Eco-Scheme.

Trialogue negotiations between the Commission, European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, aimed at reaching a final agreement on the new CAP have now concluded. While political agreement has been reached, further work remains on technical details of the proposed reforms and the final shape of the new legislative framework will now be examined carefully.

I will continue to work to achieve the best possible outcome for Irish farmers.

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