Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

We have made an arrangement and we all know fundamental changes will occur in respect of the Common Agricultural Policy. In Berlin in 1999, during the Irish Presidency and on the previous two Financial Perspectives, we have successfully pushed that down the road.

On the most recent occasion, it was the agreement and understanding that we would move to single farm payments and reform the system in one fell swoop rather than on the phased basis sought by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. The argument was that if we did that, we would have a settling in period which would bring us to the end of the next Financial Perspective in 2013. It was agreed that the review would begin in a few years time but not that it would commence in 2008. I have explained our views. The French President stated last summer that he would like to commence this during the French Presidency. When I visited the President in September, this issue and our position on it was the primary focus of our discussions. I do not think he disagrees with the position and while some people would like to enter that debate earlier, as far as I am concerned the agreement on the Financial Perspective was firm despite any attempts otherwise by anyone. However, while some are making mistakes, they are not pushing it that hard. Our position is very clear.

As Deputy Kenny will appreciate, I have stated on numerous occasions that the agricultural sector has to understand the system will fundamentally change after 2013. The Department of Agriculture and Food is conscious of this and is working on it. In terms of the kinds of arrangements we have been involved in, I was lucky in Essen in 1992 when I led the negotiations and in 1998 when I was party to the negotiations with the then Ministers, Mr. O'Kennedy and Mr. MacSharry. I have been through this debate four times and I have made clear to the agriculture industry for a long number of years that the present position will not hold after 2013 and it has to be ready to take on what will be fundamental reforms at that stage.

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