Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Pillar 1 has been an ongoing challenge because it is entirely European funding. There has been significant pressure at European level to seek to reduce CAP funding as part of the European budget. This is something we continuously fight against. A significant reduction in the European budget was initially proposed for this CAP period between now and 2027. The Taoiseach fought hard against it to try to get it increased and get it pushed back up. It was pushed back up to a static level for pillar 1. This is something that all 27 member states have to agree to. Ireland was a very ardent supporter of increasing the CAP budget. There is no doubt there has been downward pressure on the CAP budget at European level and this impacts pillar 1. We can only battle as hard as we can and get as much success as we can at European level. Where we have capacity to make a real impact is on pillar 2 funding which is national co-funding. This is where we have increased the funding by 50% and stepped up to the mark on national support for the CAP.