Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' motion. It arises from the document leaked from the European Commission this month that contains the basis of the Commission's proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. It has been widely disapproved of by the farming organisations and has been condemned as unworkable. The Minister stressed in his contribution last night that the document is but a leaked document and that it will be changed radically before the final proposals are published next October. I believe, however, that the final agreement and proposals will be based on this document and that we now see the bones of the final agreement and what will be put before the Commission and the European Parliament for adoption.

I welcomed the Minister's contribution last night in which he outlined his priorities in respect of negotiating the CAP review. It is important that he outline these in the House. I welcomed his priorities in general.

Some of the proposals contained in the document, for example, those concerning the capping of single farm payments, do not affect Ireland greatly, as the Minister outlined. He mentioned there are only approximately six farmers over the capping limit. This should give us some leeway when negotiating some of the measures that are more important to Ireland, which measures are important to sustaining farming.

The measures concerning small-scale farmers are very important. In the north west, most farms are smallholdings that on their own would not be viable or large enough to support the small farmers and their families, yet they are a vital part of the fabric of rural life. While farmers may have to obtain off-farm employment to supplement their incomes, traditional farming is vital. It contributes greatly to the local economy, to sustaining the export industry and to the provision of food and livestock into the food chain.

The measures pertaining to young farmers must be welcomed in particular and should even be strengthened, particularly given that only 6% of European farmers are under 35 and that 5 million farmers are due to retire in the next ten years. There are over 8,000 applications for courses in Irish farming colleges but there are only 1,800 places available. This shows many young people see farming as a viable alternative and as having a viable future. They need the installation aid that can be provided to them under the CAP to ensure they can be supported and encouraged to get involved in their family businesses.

I thank the Minister for outlining his priorities in the House last night. The leaked document gives the bones of the final agreement on the CAP. There is much negotiation to be done still. The Minister needs to ensure that the measures pertaining to young farmers and smallholdings will be strengthened. He needs to ensure discretion will be retained by member states in determining how the benefits of the CAP can be allocated. He also needs to do a lot of work to ensure there will be as little red tape as possible, that the system will be as simple as possible and that everybody will be able to buy into it and get on with the business of producing food and driving our economic recovery.

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