Vol. 518 No. 6
224 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on the recommendation of the agri food 2010 group that there is tension between the two objectives of agricultural policy of achieving an efficient and competitive agriculture sector on the one hand and maintaining the maximum number of farm households on the other, and whether his policy is to give equal priority to both or to favour one over the other. [12952/00]
Developing an efficient and competitive agricultural sector and maintaining the maximum number of farm house holds are both key objectives for my Department. Both objectives are set out in my Department's statement of strategy, as well as in the Government's An Action Programme for the Millennium.
The agri food 2010 report points out that these two objectives dominate Irish agricultural policy at present. It goes on to comment that:
There is some tension between these objectives, but the political consensus is that both are valid. The task is to reconcile them in a way that provides a clear guide for future policy, and realistic targets to aim for. The current very favourable economic environment provides a unique opportunity to advance both objectives simultaneously.'
The committee made a number of recommendations in their report with this objective in mind. I am now undertaking a round of consultations with the representative organisations on the findings and recommendations of the committee, which I hope to complete quickly. I will make a definitive response to the report when these consultations are completed.
