Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Feb 1993

Vol. 426 No. 7

Written Answers. - CAP Reform.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

35 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on whether the structural problems of Irish agriculture can be overcome by reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; if he intends to formulate a range of long term national policies for agriculture in the interests of the overall development of the economy; and if so, when.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

The direction of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy is to move away from market supports for agricultural products and towards providing income supports for farmers. In recognition of some of the structural difficulties associated with agriculture within the European Community in general a number of schemes were provided for which address specific structural problems. These include the early retirement scheme for farmers which will be implemented by my Department.

TheProgramme for Economic and Social Progress (PESP) contained a commitment to draw up a development plan for agriculture. This is being done by a group of representatives of my Department and of the farming organisations. The report of this group is expected within the next few months and the structural problems of agriculture are of course within the group's remit. The report will, I expect, be an important element in the strategy I will then formulate for the agriculture sector in the coming years; that strategy will also take account of the outcome of the GATT negotiations and the availability of EC funds for agricultural development purposes.