2 May 2012, 16:35
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture will meet representatives of the Irish Farmers Association on the Common Agricultural Policy tomorrow morning 3 May at 9:30 am.
CAP reform is a key priority for the Committee, which intends to discuss the subject in detail with a number of major stakeholders this month.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Tomorrow’s meeting allows the Committee engage with the Irish Farmers Association on their approach to CAP. The IFA has argued forcefully for the retaining the Single Farm Payment and Rural Development programmes to bolster family farms and agri-business.
“CAP reform negotiations have entered a crucial period and our Committee, by consulting key stakeholders, hopes to recommend an optimum approach for Ireland in the process. Our exchanges with MEPs and department officials yesterday 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.”
“Our Committee will forward a short political report to the EU Institutions before the summer, which will incorporate tomorrow’s discussions with representatives of Ireland’s largest farmers’ organisation. Other farming organisations and stakeholders are scheduled to address the Committee in the coming weeks.”
Prior to the discussion with the IFA representatives, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD will address the Committee on the Motion on Sustainable Energy Act 2002 (Section 8(2)) (Conferral of Additional Functions – Renewable Energy) Order 2012.
This meeting takes place on tomorrow morning Thursday 3 May in Committee Room 3, LH 2000, at 9:30 a.m. Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
Ends
For further information and to arrange accreditation 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