Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegation from the Department for which I have a few brief questions. The budget holds the key in the negotiations. What progress has been made in that regard? Is it an ambition that we will have an agreement on the budget towards the end of this month at the Council meeting or do the officials believe the negotiations will drag on into the Irish Presidency? What are the chances of that happening because the nuts and bolts of the entire process cannot be put in place until that happens? If it does happen, are we in danger of not having an agreement in our six month term and what would be the consequences of this in view of the countries coming after us, with no disrespect to them?

There is no mention in the presentation of young farmers and the 25% top-up. Is there a danger - this is the key to getting more young farmers back into our system, an issue in recent years - that this could be lost in translation? We must use this as a negotiating tool to get what we want in the other areas. The 25% top-up should be ring-fenced in the negotiations, if at all possible.

Mention was made of sugar quotas and support for their abolition in 2015. Is it expected that this will happen in 2015? There is speculation that it could happen in 2020. In that event there would be a five year gap. What is the likelihood of Ireland being accepted back into the market post-2015 and what, if any, progress has been made in getting us back into the system at that stage?

Flexibility is the key element of the CAP. I note five other member states support our line, although they are not heavy hitters. Are other heavy hitters likely to come on board in the near future to support our cause? I am aware other member states have made their own submissions. What is the likelihood of these submissions gaining traction ahead of ours?