Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I refer to the individual farmer where the farm visit has taken place but the report has come back stating that the farm has to be redigitised. Clearly, there will be a delay in payments in that regard. It is affecting cash flow of individual farmers at a time when it does not suit them.

In the context of the developing agricultural industry, I am aware there are forces at play in the agriculture world who believe there is potential to regenerate the sugar beet industry but there is a need for the Minister and the Department to give some direction to the agricultural industry as a whole because it is relevant in the context of crops and the plans people will have for the future.

The new area based payment and the question of where commonages fit in is relevant in my own constituency of Louth. In a previous incarnation I tried to address difficulties for individual shareholders and commonages. How will that fit into the framework for area based payments?

Regarding horse training farms, such as large farms used for the training of race horses that clearly are not in the mainstream activity of farm production, how will they be treated in the context of the area based payment? On the afforested areas, I ask the Minister to comment on the 7% eco-provision in the plans. Is this set-aside by a different name? Is it realistic to leave this aspect as part of what is termed the "end of the day product" and which will be part of the CAP policy going forward?

See this speech in context