Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge and welcome the Commissioner. I totally agree with his comments on the groceries order. We debated when considering the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill how we dealt with that issue. I have consistently called for its re-examination. There is such a gap in the market, with underselling of alcohol as a loss leader to get people into the supermarket. We legislated for this. What was occurring was absolutely appalling. I hope this committee can restart the debate on getting the groceries order back into the frame.

The Commissioner mentioned the importance of the CAP budget. What are his views on the reference years in the original CAP, namely, 2002 and 2003? If we are to have another CAP for the period to 2027, there will be reference years dating back a quarter of a century. This should be taken into consideration when thinking about young farmers coming into the system. Is the Commissioner happy that this is the approach we should be taking at European level to ensure young farmers entering the system have single farm payments to work with? In many ways, having single farm payments dating back a quarter of a century is one of the key issues that need to be examined in order that the CAP can be sustainable and young farmers entering the landscape can be promoted. Is it the approach of the Commission to have entitlements dating back 25 years if the new CAP for the period to 2027 is introduced? Can the Commissioner shed some light on that important issue?

I welcome in particular the Commissioner's statement last Friday in Kilkenny that a political agreement was made regarding the three-crop rule. Could he shed light on when the paperwork will be completed? Single farm payment applications must be submitted by 15 May. There is a process that needs to be put in place so they will be above board and legal. Some of the advisers and Teagasc staff are anxious that the initial paperwork be done so the single farm payment forms can be completed to the letter of the law.