Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with a number of the Deputy's comments. On the distribution, the approach I have been advocating proposes the redistribution of approximately €80 million over the next round of CAP from people who have done well out of the pillar 1 distribution and farmers who have not done so well.

The higher the payment, the more one loses. At the high end we are losing more than 20%. Farmers with lower payments may gain hundreds of percentage points. The position Ireland has advocated is unlikely to be the final compromise. The debate will carry on for six to eight months before we get it right.

I agree with the Deputy in respect of capping and the Sinn Féin proposal for a cap of €100,000, which I heard Deputy Martin Ferris raise, is a good one. The current Commission proposal is for capping to begin at payments over €150,000 and to cease after €300,000. The idea that farmers are getting payments of over €150,000 in the single farm payment, regardless of the size of the farm, is not defensible. I do not disagree with the point of view expressed by Deputy Colreavy. Ireland is strongly supporting the Commission proposal in respect of capping. Powerful countries strongly oppose the idea and it is worth noting that only six farmers in Ireland will be affected by the capping proposals. That is why in discussions we have focused on areas that affect tens of thousands of farmers.

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