Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Update on CAP and CFP: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

2:50 pm

Photo of Susan O'KeeffeSusan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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I thank the Minister and, in particular, his officials for the enormous effort to which he referred. I am sure they have been working extremely hard. Is one part of the trialogues batting more than the others for smaller farmers? It is a difficult question. The idea of supporting young farmers coming through the system almost becomes irrelevant if small farming is in danger, because farms will become more like business operations with businesspeople who will look to become involved with farming as farms get bigger. The idea of the small farmer and young farmers taking over farms will be diluted.

The Minister's time frame looks good but ambitious. What would happen if there is a hiccup and the process goes beyond the end of June?