Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1268. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to introduce fairness in basic payment schemes in the new CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16919/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The process of agreeing the regulations for the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programming period is ongoing at EU level, and my Department continues to play a proactive role in this process. Under the current proposals, a new Basic Income Support for Sustainability will replace the current Basic Payment Scheme. I am acutely aware of the importance of the financial support provided under these direct payment schemes for Irish farmers, and am committed to ensuring that my Department continues to implement such schemes in a fair manner. For example, I have always been clear in my support for the capping of payments as a key tool to support a fair distribution of payments.

The CAP reform proposals presented by the European Commission in June 2018 included a number of mandatory redistributive proposals for Direct Payments including capping and degressivity, increased convergence of payments and a redistributive scheme to support sustainability. During the negotiation process, the Agrifish Council of Ministers has adopted a position which supports the optional inclusion of these schemes as part of a suite of measures that Member States can select from depending on their particular national circumstances. This allows Member States, who have vastly different farm structures, to make the optimum choices for their circumstances. The Trilogue negotiations on these proposals are ongoing and the final shape of the CAP Regulations and the options available to Member States will not be clear until this process is concluded.

As this process develops, I will continue to engage with stakeholders on this issue with a view to ensuring that the developing EU regulations include a suite of measures which will enable us to ensure the fair implementation of these vital financial supports.