Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2009
86 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the plans for a debate with relevant stakeholders on the future of food production in Europe in view of the fact that major changes are expected to take place in 2013 in terms of the way the EU handles its food policy and farm family incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20191/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraA first policy debate on the future of CAP after 2013 took place at the Informal Agriculture Council in September last year. While a large majority of Member States favoured maintaining a strong EU agriculture policy, there were marked differences in emphasis from different Member States. The French Presidency took discussions forward and the Czech Presidency has continued the debate in the first months of 2009.
Notwithstanding discussions to date, concrete proposals have yet to emerge on the shape of EU agriculture policy beyond 2013. Among the ideas emerging are: demands from some Member States for a lower budget share for agriculture and for eventual dismantling of CAP; demands from new Member States for "re-balancing" of Member States' shares of agricultural funding; Increased calls for changes to the Single Payment system to move from the historic model and to apply a "flatter" model of direct payments; Calls for a greater focus on pillar 2 and introduction of more specific selection criteria and indicators to measure the effectiveness, outputs and impacts of rural development programmes; Continuing pressures to reduce supply and market management mechanisms with a greater reliance on crisis management.
I am examining the options and possibilities being put forward with a view to determining what policies will serve Irish agriculture best in the years to come and I will be consulting fully with stakeholders on this starting later in the year. In this connection and following on from the very successful Agri-food 2010 and Agri-Vision 2015 initiatives, I have already decided that it is necessary to prepare an updated national strategy for the agri-food sector to adapt to forthcoming challenges, to maintain and improve its competitiveness and to underline its vital role in Ireland's economy. Currently my Department is engaged in preparatory analysis for this process, following which the consultation process with stakeholders will commence in the latter part of the year.
