11 DFómh 2011, 18:57
Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture received a full and detailed briefing from Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at its meeting earlier today. The Minister outlined his policy priorities during the meeting and responded to a high volume of questions from the members of the Committee.
Speaking after the meeting, Committee Chairman, Andrew Doyle, TD said: “Our meeting today provided the members of the Committee with an opportunity to hear at first hand from the Minister about his various priorities for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food sectors. The formal legal proposals for CAP reform to be announced tomorrow; Agri-food Policy, Development and Trade; Food Harvest 2020; Meat and Milk Policies together with the Common Fisheries Policy were all topics that we examined and discussed. The Minister confirmed to the Committee that he will be making a statement to the Dáil followed by a Question and Answer session on Thursday, 13th October, in response to the EU Commission’s CAP Reform announcement due tomorrow (Wednesday).
Members of the Committee heard the Minister outline his commitment to farm families and the efforts that are being made to make the processing and payment of all scheme payments quickly and without unnecessary delays. The Minister explained the requirement for his Department to reduce its total expenditure from €1.647 billion in 2011 to €1.286 billion in 2012 and how that reduction needs to be balanced so that it does not cause lasting damage to the sector. The many positives in the agri-sector are to be celebrated and perhaps the particularly strong performance in the agri-food sector should be noted. We heard that our exports in the first half of 2011 have increased by more that €500 million (14%) and this sector is leading the way for our recovery over the medium and longer term”.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Cáit Hayes,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3883
M: 087-9190300
F: +3531 618 4551
cait.hayes@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey, Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fail
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fail
John Whelan, Labour Party
Members of the Committee heard the Minister outline his commitment to farm families and the efforts that are being made to make the processing and payment of all scheme payments quickly and without unnecessary delays. The Minister explained the requirement for his Department to reduce its total expenditure from €1.647 billion in 2011 to €1.286 billion in 2012 and how that reduction needs to be balanced so that it does not cause lasting damage to the sector. The many positives in the agri-sector are to be celebrated and perhaps the particularly strong performance in the agri-food sector should be noted. We heard that our exports in the first half of 2011 have increased by more that €500 million (14%) and this sector is leading the way for our recovery over the medium and longer term”.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Cáit Hayes,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3883
M: 087-9190300
F: +3531 618 4551
cait.hayes@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey, Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fail
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fail
John Whelan, Labour Party