Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I have not had the opportunity to read the document yet. Hopefully, I will get an opportunity over the weekend but I am sure it is positive. Whenever I have appeared before the committee, all members have shared the same views and priorities. Bart Brady, former assistant Secretary General in the Department contributed to the work carried out by the joint committee and he is one of the eminent experts in the Union on CAP.

We ensure that we use every opportunity to outline the necessity for a properly resourced CAP. The Taoiseach does so, as do I, at every Council meeting. It is important and none of us can ever emphasise enough that the CAP is about food security for all the citizens of Europe, the protection of rural communities, the management of our natural resources and ensuring family farming survives in Europe and the citizens of Europe have access to affordable food and it is not about the transfer of funds to farmers or the agrifood industry.

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