Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2013
40. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the redistributive payment proposal from the French Government and a similar proposal included in the Council of Ministers' proposals are till on the table; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21466/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the redistributive payment proposal is still on the table. This proposal, which gives Member States the option of using up to 30% of the national ceiling for a top-up payment to farmers on hectares up to the national average farm size or up to 30 hectares, forms part of the General Approach on CAP reform agreed by the Council of Ministers last March. This option is an add-on and not an alternative to flat rate or partial convergence.
The option did not form part of the original Commission proposal. However the European Parliament has proposed a similar option to that of the Council which would allow top-ups on up to the first 50 hectares of each farm, using up to 30% of national envelopes.
This issue will now be the subject of further negotiations between the three EU institutions in the trilogues process.
