Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

Environmental measures, such as water management, will become more prevalent under the CAP in future. The question concerns the administrative functions. There is a suggestion afoot that we will move from pillar one to pillar two and that, instead of direct payments to farmers for management of the economy, it will be administered through various local organisations. That danger is there, so the question needs to be addressed. It may not be a real fear, but it is something that needs to be addressed. I would like to hear the Minister's view on that in the first instance.

Second, as regards carbon reduction, at some stage there will have to be an internal debate between the Minister, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, as to whether methane reduction will become an issue if the process of carbon reduction becomes part of the CAP regime. The climate change agenda is also on the cards, given the forthcoming UN conference in Copenhagen in December. How will we get to a situation where we do not compromise production or market share, while meeting future demands for food, as well as other targets? There will be an internal battle within the Government on that issue. It is something that will arise in the context of the CAP. I would like to get an opinion from the Minister on these questions.

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