Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are here to discuss agriculture and rural affairs with Commissioner Phil Hogan. I welcome the Commissioner here to this joint meeting of the Joint Committee of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development. I am joined by Deputy Joe Carey, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development. The officials, Mr. Kiely, head of European Commission Representation in Ireland, Mr. Ryan and Mr. Tynan of the Commissioner's cabinet, are very welcome. The joint meeting is convened today to discuss some developing issues in the formation of the new Common Agricultural Policy policy as well as additional EU developments including Brexit, EU trade negotiations and the roads development programme. The Chairman of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae is also present. I welcome him to the meeting. I welcome the Commissioner back. I know he was due to come here in March but weather changed all those plans. I thank him very much for rescheduling the meeting.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Due to the number of attendees at today's meeting, I ask members to limit their questions to two minutes initially if that is possible. If time permits, supplementary questions may be allowed. We only have about an hour in total. The Commissioner has other appointments later on.

As the Commissioner is aware, the EU is at a very crucial juncture in its history and the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, itself is undergoing a reform process that could define its future. As he is also aware, a delegation of the committee participated in the parliamentary committee meeting that he addressed at the European Parliament on Tuesday where a number of the pressing issues were discussed. Perhaps the most serious issue of all is the budget and how the new CAP will be resourced, particularly where there is a distinct possibility this may be reduced. Another very serious issue is generational renewal and encouraging more young people to enter and maintain an interest in farming. Environmental measures and external conversions also appear to have the potential to be contentious in the months ahead. Outside CAP, the farming community is concerned with Brexit, Mercosur, the possibility of a hard border still looming in the absence of concrete and specific proposals, coupled with a more open trade policy that could be detrimental to EU interests, more notably for beef, but also for sugar and ethanol. Before I invite the Commissioner to make his opening statement, I ask the Chair of the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development, Deputy Joe Carey to say a few words.