John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The 2015 programme will be progressed in 2006. We all want a prosperous rural economy. Ireland must also adopt the Rural Development Regulation 2007-2013. This will be followed by detailed support measures. The consultative process with stakeholders will commence in coming weeks and I hope we will have that with the Commission in March or April. The programmes setting out support measures will be sent in the following three months or so. The range of support measures is very wide and covers the three broad objectives of competitiveness, environment, quality of life and diversification of the rural economy. While we regard the report of the agri-vision 2015 committee as being more detailed as it outlines how farming numbers could decrease by 2015, both reports are helpful. We will consider both reports and take on board the good points from both.

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