Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

Arising from the Lisbon treaty, the Parliament is now a co-decision maker in respect of the agriculture budget and there is a big job to be done in ensuring that the agriculture budget is protected and increased. There are traditionally hostile elements within the Parliament to the Common Agricultural Policy. People ask why we should spend 40% of our budget on the Common Agricultural Policy. We should, because it is one of the few areas where we have a common policy. We spend one third of what the Americans spend in supporting their agricultural primary producers.

We need to have a proactive approach in the Parliament as well. Has the Government given any thought to a strategy that embraces the new co-decision function of the Parliament in respect of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy?

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