Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a detailed presentation and response to the extensive range of questions posed by members of the committee. I thank Mr. O'Driscoll, Ms Cannon and Ms McPhillips for coming before the committee. The witnesses probably have a copy of the document we submitted in December. I will keep saying that if the objective of a new CAP is, as a Commissioner said at the outset, to produce as much food as possible within the EU sustainably and to protect rural communities, Ireland would have no problem with it. The key first principle of flexibility is for the member state and we will take ownership as much as possible.

We have accepted a move towards convergence and pace and extent is probably the issue to be decided. The same logic applies to greening. These are two issues pertinent to active farmers, and they hold the key to many other issues, such as reference years and flexibility. If the national reserve works properly, it can be used to facilitate young farmers.

To that end, as Chairman of the committee I will host on 11 March as part of the Presidency a meeting in Dublin Castle of all the chairmen of these committees across EU member states. We will deal with the CAP, the Common Fisheries Policy and the young farmer issue. Our statistics mirror those in the wider EU with regard to the number of farmers under 35, with the rate at 7% or 8%. It is not just an Irish issue. We probably have more farmers over 70 than in other member states but we have the same number under 35. If we are going to produce food in the outlined manner, we need young trained professionals at the helm in managing the land, although not necessarily owning it. That is a hang-up that we in Ireland have had in particular. There was mention of reference years and because of our conacre system, there is a specific challenge that goes beyond CAP negotiations. It goes to the core of the manner in which we allow people to rent land. That has been alluded to by Senator Barry and others. The challenge will go beyond this discussion but we should be mindful of it.

We have gone over our time but I thank the witnesses. We look forward to ongoing briefings and the next couple of months will be crucial from an Irish perspective. We wish the witnesses, the Minister and all the officials and MEPs the very best in the ongoing negotiations.