1 May 2012, 17:45
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today engaged in wide-ranging debate with Department Officials and Irish MEPs on proposed Common Agricultural Policy reforms.
Aidan O’Driscoll, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, outlined to the Committee the priorities for Ireland in these CAP reform negotiations. He said that they centre on delivering maximum possible flexibility for Member States and simplification for the farmer.
MEPs Marian Harkin, Independent, Mairead McGuinness of Fine Gael and Phil Prendergast of Labour also addressed the Committee.
Ms McGuinness MEP expressed concern that agreement on the overall EU budget is proving elusive, in an increasingly fraught political climate. Marian Harkin MEP pointed to the recent criticism by the Court of Auditors levels of bureaucracy within the rural development programme. Phil Prendergast MEP cautioned that a one-size-fits-all approach would dilute CAP’s potential to bring out genuine improvement in farming sectors across Europe.
Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Today’s session kicks off an intensive period for the Committee in which a number of major stakeholders will outline their position on the on-going CAP negotiations. These key negotiations are a source of ongoing concern to farmers and rural communities across the country. We agree with the thrust of the officials’ argument that greater flexibility for Member States should be central to the negotiations.
“It was hoped that these new CAP negotiations would herald a more simplified process for the farmer. However, Committee Members pointed to fears that recipients might have to navigate even more red tape post-2014. In particular, Members said that the greening proposals as currently outlined might constitute unnecessary micromanaging of farming. In response, the department officials and MEPs were more sanguine about the greening proposals, given Ireland has already has one of most environmentally friendly agriculture sectors in the Union.
“In context of overall negotiations, the Committee is encouraged to hear from department officials of Irish efforts to form alliances among likeminded countries.
“Our fruitful exchanges with MEPs were a stark reminder of the precarious nature of the current negotiations on the EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework. Until the EU budget from 2014 to 2020 is agreed, the outcome of the CAP negotiations is uncertain.
“For the first time, the European Parliament has a role in co-decision with the Council on the negotiations. Consequently, we will continue our engagement with Irish MEPs in forging a united approach to the negotiations. Our Committee will forward a short political report to the EU Institutions before the summer, which will reflect our meetings with a wide range of stakeholders in Ireland on the CAP negotiations.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan