Johnny Guirke
Ceist:304. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to continue the process of convergence in 2022. [51449/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 October 2021
Ceisteanna (304)
Freagraí scríofa
Convergence is a mandatory provision in the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Programme and a provision that will be continued in the new CAP.
The Regulation regarding the transition period permitted EU Member States to continue convergence during the transition period, should they wish to do so. Ireland took the decision to pause convergence during this time. This option was chosen to provide some much-needed stability in direct payments and to allow time to consult with farmers and their representative bodies to ascertain their views and expectations.
The Department and I continue to consult with stakeholders to further consider how to continue the convergence process along with considering their views on various other elements of the new CAP. These consultations will serve to ensure concerns and recommendations by farmers and their representative bodies are incorporated into the development of the CAP Strategic Plan.