Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentation and welcome them to the committee. We must acknowledge that progress has been made. The budget is agreed and there has been a cut of 7% overall and 3% for CAP. We did not fare too badly in difficult times and must move on with what we have and distribute it fairly. It is very important that active farmers get the payment and that we do not have a situation where farmers can sit back and draw down significant payments. We have seen this a little in the past when farmers built up significant payments. It was the advice they were receiving. They would then sit back and not farm to the extent of farmers with lesser payments.

Is the capping of overall payments being considered? It was touched on earlier. Will there be front-loading? That is important. I am also interested to know about Pillar 2, which includes environmentally disadvantaged areas, suckler schemes and sheep schemes, all of which are very important. It is important to fund schemes to encourage people to return to farming those areas that have natural restraints, including commonages, which were discussed by the committee last week.