Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2008
479 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to support farm families in order to maximise their choice as to the way they farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28532/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra485 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to ensure that farmers have both the freedom to farm and access to all necessary supports, regardless of the path they choose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28538/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 485 together.
For some time, farmers have chosen to maximise their incomes through a combination of farming and off-farm employment. This Government is committed to maintaining a core of competitive, full-time farmers, while at the same time providing an economic environment which enables smaller scale producers to avail of both on and off-farm opportunities to secure their future. Full-time farmers are looking to the new flexibility offered to them under decoupling to develop and intensify their commercial farm enterprises while many small-scale producers are finding that combining farming with off-farm employment is an effective way to ensure the viability of their holdings.
The State's role is to facilitate a climate that assists competitive drive and innovation, for example, through the implementation of the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan and the commitments in the Programme for Government. At EU level a range of market support measures are operated, while the exchequer and the EU together also provide almost €2 billion per year in direct payments to support farm income.
480 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to significantly reduce the regulatory burdens faced by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28533/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra533 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to vigorously pursue the simplification agenda at EU level, with the immediate aim of bringing about change in the EU cross compliance checks system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28587/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra534 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to minimise and streamline the financial and regulatory issues facing small farms and farm businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28588/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra535 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to use the 2008 CAP health check to best advantage in terms of reducing the burden of paperwork on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28589/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 533 to 535, inclusive, together.
The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 has dramatically reduced the paperwork for farmers in applying for the direct payment schemes. In addition, my Department introduced an on-line application system for the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas' Compensatory Allowance Scheme for 2007 to facilitate the application process. Over 7,500 farmers availed of this facility in 2007. This year some 20,000 farmers have applied on-line.
Following a Commission review in 2007 on the operation of cross compliance, some legislative changes have been made which set rules for the non imposition of sanctions for minor breaches of the cross compliance requirements in addition to the possibility for a de minimus provision where sanctions up to €100 may be waived. The review also introduced a one-day availability rule for land and clarified the cross compliance responsibilities in the context of the one day availability requirements. The revised arrangements take effect from 1 January 2008.
My Department has also carried out a full review of the inspection arrangements and checklists for the Single Payment Scheme with a view to simplification of the arrangements (including paperwork) where possible while, at the same time, ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements.
My Department is actively engaged with the Commission and like-minded Member States to bring about a rationalisation of the cross-compliance arrangements. This issue will be further pursued in the context of the CAP Health Check. Specifically, Ireland is committed to pursuing indent 14 of the June 2007 Council conclusions which requested the Commission "to study ways of improving the coherence and practicability of the control provisions in the different sectors covered by the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) for example as regards control rates and advance notice for on-the-spot checks". My Department is also pursuing general simplification of the Single Payment Scheme arrangements in the context of the CAP Health Check.
