Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

In the context of this debate will the Minister agree there is a danger that we might slip back into a "one size will fit all 27 member states" approach? While the eastern European and new accession states may have a point, that does not necessarily mean their favoured option of a flat rate payment must be imposed on us. If we have to tweak our historical model, the single farm payment, the Minister might cast some light on his view of a rolling reference period of years for payment, for example, rather than the historical model which is based on 2000, 2001 and 2002. Has the Department given some thought to a rolling reference period?

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